As part of the 2nd meeting of the Decade of the Ocean held from April 10 to 12, 2024, Explorations de Monaco chose Barcelona to announce their next expedition, the
Mediterranean Missions
. The Mediterranean Missions are part of the “Monaco Explorations” project, approved by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Sciences for Sustainable Development 2021-2030. They will focus on Marine Protected Areas. From April 7 to 14, 2024 in Barcelona, a series of events were organized by the Société des Explorations de Monaco around this theme. From the emblematic presence of the Tuiga sailboat at Barcelona’s Reial Club Nautica, to the inauguration of an exhibition by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, round-table discussions on Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas and educational and awareness-raising activities in Barcelona schools, the announcement made in Barcelona will go down as a landmark in the Mediterranean Missions.
The satellite event on April 9, 2024 in Barcelona provided an opportunity to delve into the heart of the issue of Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas, the challenges linked to their sustainable development and the strengthening of their effective management. The event is organized by Explorations de Monaco in collaboration with major players such as MedPAN, The MedFund, SPA/RAC, MonkSeal Alliance and the Yacht-Club de Monaco. The day’s events included two round-table discussions on Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas and the inauguration of the exhibition Time for action – Marine Protected Areas of the Mediterranean by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco. Aboard Tuiga, the Monegasque Sovereign also exchanged views with the younger generation, represented by a delegation of students from the Lycée Français de Barcelone, accompanied by their teachers.
Flagship of the Principality of Monaco since 1995,
Tuiga
was born at the beginning of the 20th century. She was built in 1909 in Scotland at the Fairlie shipyard by naval architect William Fife III, one of the cradles of traditional yachting. This elegant cutter remains one of the finest jewels to be admired at classic yacht gatherings. Its features are similar to those of the future J classes of the 1930s.
After two days and one night of sailing, this 15M JI joined one of its three sister ships still sailing around the world, the
Mariska
.
Tuiga ‘s presence at the2nd Conference of the Decade of the Ocean in Barcelona foreshadows future sailings by Mediterranean Missions vessels.
In the Medes Islands reserve, there is a limit on the number of divers per site and per boat. A rotation system allows each club to bring its divers to each spot in turn. The number of divers is limited to 45 per site. Underwater, you can’t touch anything. Boats are not allowed to drop anchor and only use the mooring buoys provided.
In the Medes Islands, fishing was banned 40 years ago. Some fish species, such as groupers and bream, have been able to return to their original densities and rebuild their populations. These fish live longer and we have more breeders. Increasing populations within the reserve allow these species to colonize new areas all around. The fishermen, of course, are very happy. This allows them to catch nice-sized fish where fishing is allowed.
Thanks to Marine Protected Areas, we encourage, extend and improve the more sustainable use of marine resources, because they meet both the needs of nature and those of the communities that live alongside them… This Decade represents a unique opportunity to better manage the world and its major challenges, which demand truth, sincerity, collegiality and responsibility.
Protecting the Medes Islands has a major economic impact on the local economy, in terms of diving, hotel stays and diversification of nautical activities. The reserve generates economic spin-offs of over 15 million euros each year and 300 jobs, representing over 3% of Estartit’s population. It’s a very important asset and a driving force for economic development and employment. We take care to strike the right balance between protection and conservation.
We have some crucial goals ahead of us. A lot has already been done for the Ocean, but there’s still a lot to do, and we can do it. We must continue to invest in science, we must continue to educate and engage, and we must continue this international cooperation. We know it’s very difficult in these times of crisis, but there’s one thing that can unite us, and that’s the Ocean.
Here, it took 20 years to turn the Estartit region into a nature park. When there are rules, communication, infrastructure and a minimum of control and security, things start to work in a balanced way, because everyone realizes that they can benefit.
By working together, we’re not just protecting the Mediterranean. When biodiversity is threatened, we are threatened because we are directly connected to Nature. We’re part of it, and we can’t live without Nature. To protect the human species, we must protect Nature.
There is a major need for funding for Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas. When it comes to regulation, control and monitoring, there’s a lot to be done. Some MPAs do not yet have a boat to patrol and ensure proper surveillance. That’s why we need to pay close attention to the qualitative dimension of the 30X30 lens.
We have developed The MedFund to support the day-to-day operational costs of Marine Protected Areas, i.e. all activities such as surveillance, law enforcement, ecological and scientific monitoring, but also the active governance that brings together stakeholders around the Mediterranean Sea, as well as each site manager, to contribute to the implementation of their management plan. We currently support 20 Marine Protected Areas around the Mediterranean, representing a surface area of 9,000 km2 and a budget of over 6 million euros.
Formulate a shared vision for the years ahead. After the first three years of intense activity, which saw the development of numerous projects accredited by the decade, the General Conference on April 10, 11 and 12, 2024 was organized into four thematic sessions, based around the 10 Ocean challenges to be met by the participants. A key moment to develop a common vision and envisage innovative scientific solution initiatives on the scale of the international ocean community.
In all, the conference attracted over 1,500 participants, 40 high-level speakers, 300 posters, 150 oral presentations and 130 satellite events. These figures speak volumes about the scale of the event.
The General Conference of the Decade of the Ocean highlighted the contribution and commitment of the Principality and its Sovereign to the development of ocean sciences.
The conference took place at a unique moment in the global landscape of ocean governance, with the recent emergence of the agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction. (BBNJ agreement), the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the formalization of the ocean-climate dialoguein the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the ongoing negotiation of the Plastics Treaty. She recognized that the Decade of the Oceans could make an essential contribution to science and knowledge to support the implementation of these instruments.
Throughout the Barcelona week, awareness-raising and educational activities followed one another in rapid succession. Around 300 young pupils, students and teachers have benefited.
Alongside diplomacy and science, mediation is the third pillar of Explorations de Monaco’s activities. The announcement of the Mediterranean Missions in Barcelona was also an opportunity to raise awareness and pass on knowledge about the major issues involved in preserving and sustainably managing the ocean, and the Mediterranean in particular. In Barcelona, this mediation component took the form of educational activities and awareness-raising workshops, organized for classes at the Lycée Français de Barcelone, the Pau school, the Tanit school in Santa Coloma de Gramenet and the Faculté Nautique de Barcelone.
Pam is a young diver and biologist with a passion for the marine environment. This fictitious character invites visitors to this traveling exhibition to discover the Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas and learn more about the issues involved in their development. Punctuated by Pam’s enthusiastic audio commentary, the tour and educational workshops led by Explorations de Monaco staff provide answers and information to the following questions: What can be done to safeguard this shared heritage? How do Marine Protected Areas work? Are they effective solutions? Find Pam on the exhibition page.
The exhibition Le Temps de l'Action: les Aires Marines Protégées de Méditerranée (Time for Action: Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas ) will be touring the various Mediterranean countries where the Explorations de Monaco missions will take place.
In conjunction with the Decade of the Ocean Conference, the Explorations de Monaco team travelled to Estartit, in the heart of the Montgri Natural Park, the Medes Islands and the Baix Ter, to meet the people involved in the day-to-day running of the Medes Islands Marine Reserve, a Marine Protected Area that sets the benchmark for efficiency and sustainable management. The improved and strengthened management of this marine zone since its creation has been in everyone’s interest, benefiting not only the flora and fauna and the balance of the ecosystems, but also all the park’s social and economic players: diving clubs, tourism agencies, hotels, fishermen, scientists, educators…
After Barcelona, Monaco Explorations are preparing the first leg of the Mediterranean Missions in Greece, where several operations and meetings with Marine Protected Area site managers will be implemented in October 2024.
This next mission is part of a series of concrete actions undertaken by the Principality of Monaco to promote marine conservation and raise public awareness of environmental issues. With the Mediterranean Missions, Monaco continues its commitment to preserving marine biodiversity.
Before embarking on this mission to Greece, the Principality of Monaco and its partners marked their commitment to preserving the Ocean by taking part in the “Our Ocean Greece 2024” conference. This conference, held from April 15 to 17, 2024 in Athens, brought together the most eminent international players committed to protecting the marine environment. A unique opportunity to share knowledge, best practices and strengthen partnerships to tackle the crucial challenges threatening the Mediterranean Sea.
Bringing together governments and non-state actors to make concrete commitments to protect the health and safety of the oceans, the 9th Our Ocean conference recorded 471 commitments worth $11.35 billion across the conference’s six action areas. Since 2014, the Our Ocean conference has mobilized over 2,600 commitments worth around $140 billion.
Among its own 20 commitments, Greece has officially announced the end of bottom trawling in Greek Marine Protected Areas.
The Monaco Exploration Society is a platform dedicated to H.S.H. Prince Albert II’s commitment to the knowledge, sustainable management and protection of the Ocean.
