August 19 to September 11, 2017
Mission Madeira 2017 – Atlantic
- Biodiversity, Insular fauna, Madeira and the Selvagens, Marine Protected Areas, Mediterranean monk seal, Protection de la mégafaune
Setting sail again...
In May 2017, the Principality of Monaco approached the Republic of Portugal and the Autonomous Region of Madeira to host, as part of Explorations de Monaco, a scientific mission mainly involving local scientific teams, associations and NGOs.
The aim of the mission was to study the biodiversity around Madeira and the Selvagens Islands.
It also aimed to raise awareness of the richness and importance of these natural environments, through a number of mediation and awareness-raising initiatives.
Madeira was once the scene of many of Prince Albert I of Monaco’s scientific campaigns.
The choice of this first destination was both a tribute from H.S.H. Prince Albert II to his great-great-grandfather, and the affirmation of a strong international commitment to the study, knowledge and protection of the marine environment.
Under the impetus of Monaco’s Sovereign, the Principality was reviving a great tradition: exploring to learn, understand, love and protect the Ocean.
Destination Madeira and Selvagens
September 5 to 7, 2017: a princely visit of a diplomatic, historical and scientific nature.
In Lisbon on September 5, 2017, H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince met with H.E. Mr. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of the Republic of Portugal, at the National Palace in Belém, to discuss relations between the two countries, environmental protection issues and more specifically the subject of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
A little later, he was welcomed at Madeira’s Cristiano-Ronaldo Airport by Mr. Juiz Conselheiro Ireneu Barreto, Representative of the Republic for the Autonomous Region of Madeira, by Dr. José Lino Tranquada Gomes, President of the Madeira Legislative Assembly and by Dr. Miguel Albuquerque, President of the Regional Government, in the presence of Mr. Robert Calcagno, Director General of the Oceanographic Institute and head of the Monaco Explorations Scientific Campaign Unit.
Official meeting between H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco and the President of the Republic of Portugal, H.E. Mr. Marcelo Rebelo De Sousa. Lisbon, September 5, 2017 © Rui Ochoa.
Tribute to Albert I of Monaco
On his arrival in Funchal, the island’s capital, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco went to the Lido, a modern seaside district, to inaugurate a square Albert I of Monaco, in the presence of the Madeiran authorities, a Monegasque delegation and the local population.
H.S.H. Prince Albert II then inaugurated the exhibition “Un Prince explorateur, Albert I de Monaco à découverte de Madeère” at the Natural History Museum in Funchal . “Albert I of Monaco discovered Madeira” at the Natural History Museum in Funchal.. The exhibition was conceived as a travel diary, following Prince Albert I ‘s journey to Madeira between 1879 and 1912, through his correspondence, personal diary, numerous period photographs, scientific instruments and paintings by Louis Tinayre.
Funchal. September 5, 2017. Tribute to the Prince Navigator, Albert I of Monaco, pioneer of modern oceanography.
The exhibition Un Prince explorateur, Albert Ier de Monaco à la découverte de Madeère was presented at the Natural History Museum in Funchal from September 2017 to January 2018.
The exhibition
Entirely financed by Explorations de Monaco, the exhibition was produced by the Archives and Library of the Princely Palace (Mr. Thomas Fouilleron, Director, and Mr. Thomas Blanchy, Administrator) with the collaboration of Ms. Jacqueline Carpine-Lancre (Historical Research Officer at the Princely Palace), in coordination with the Oceanographic Institute (Mr. Patrick Piguet, Director of Heritage and Valérie Pisani, Head of Art Collections), the Audiovisual Archives of Monaco (Vincent Vatrican), the Natural History Museum of Funchal (Manuel Biscoito and Juan Silva, Curators) and the Regional Archives of Madeira (Maria Paredes, Curator).
Albert I of Monaco and the Madeira archipelago
Albert I of Monaco’s history with Madeira began on February 28, 1879, when he made his first stopover in Funchal aboard his schooner, l’Hirondelle.
It was during this stay that he metAlice Heine (1857-1925), who later became his second wife in 1889. Between 1897 and 1912, Prince Albert I ‘s six oceanographic campaigns included the Madeira archipelago (Desertas, Porto Santo, Selvagens), on three successive ships : the Princesse-Alice in 1897, the second Princesse-Alice in 1901, 1904 and 1905, and the second Hirondelle in 1911 and 1912.
Nearly one hundred “Madeira” stations were marked on the maps of the expedition itineraries, out of the 3,698 carried out between 1885 and 1915 during his 28 oceanographic campaigns.
“Adventurous campaigns, difficult expeditions, hazardous navigations have always seduced me; that’s why, faced with these barbaric islands where only wild goats, seals and seabirds lived; faced with the poetry that hovered over this almost virgin domain in the white belt made around it by the waves of the Ocean, I was ardently solicited.”
Albert I of Monaco.
Excerpt from“A Navigator’s Career“, 1901.
L'Hirondelle II campaign, 1912: last stop in Madeira...
An intense scientific program
After intense preparation from April to July 2017, the Madeira mission took place from August 19 to September 11, 2017 aboard the Yersin for 24 days including:
- 2 days of logistical preparation in Madeira (August 19 and 20),
- 19 days of operations in Madeira (August 21 to September 8),
- 3 days of navigation and operations in the Selvagens Islands (September 9 to 11).
The Explorations de Monaco team then continued its journey aboard the Yersin towards the second objective scheduled in Macaronesia from September 15 to October 3: the Cabo Verde 2017 mission.
Operations in Madeira
The scientific fieldwork carried out in Madeira and the Selvagens Islands focused mainly on local projects linked to Monaco’s flagship themes and its international commitment to sustainable ocean management: Marine Protected Areas and the protection of megafauna and biodiversity.
Conducted and initiated by local players and scientists, they benefited from the support of the EDM, which took various forms: logistics and resources at sea, analyses, provision of scientific equipment, production of images…
Four main operations were carried out, mainly on the north coast of Madeira and the Desertas Islands.
Image extracted from the traveling exhibition on the monk seal proposed by the Environment and Natural Resources Secretariat of the Autonomous Region of Madeira and the IFCN. Financed by Explorations de Monaco, this exhibition, designed by the IFCN teams, in particular Ms. Isabel Freitas, will be touring Madeira's schools and town halls to raise awareness of this emblematic and endangered species among young people and the general public.
Focus on an endangered species: the Mediterranean monk seal
September 5 to 7, 2017: a princely visit of a diplomatic, historical and scientific nature.
Work on this emblematic species was one of the highlights of the Madeira 2017 mission.
Several sequences followed one another between August 21 and September 7. A critically endangered species, emblematic of the Madeira archipelago with a population of around forty individuals, the monk seal is one of the Principality’s priority conservation programs, notably through projects supported and financed by the Prince Albert II Foundation.
In Madeira, several entities are involved in the local conservation program, including theIFCN and the Museu da Baleia. IFCN is in charge of the monk seal program for the Madeira archipelago, which was launched in 1998.
The various sequences dedicated to the monk seal during the mission :
- on-site reconnaissance on August 21 and 22,
- veterinary workshop on August 23,
- inventory of monk seal habitats on the north coast of Madeira and the east coast of the Desertas from August 28 to 31,
- filming on the monk seal from September 4 to 7,
- expert workshop on monk seal conservation on september 5,
- restitution in the presence of the Sovereign on September 6,
- The Sovereign visited the island of Deserta Grande on September 6 and 7 to meet those involved in protecting and conserving monk seals, and carry out in situ observations.
International experts on the Mediterranean monk seal gathered around H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco on September 6, 2017 © F. Buyle. Monaco Explorations.
September 5 to 7, 2017: a princely visit of a diplomatic, historical and scientific nature.
Participants at the workshop on September 6, 2017: Moderator: Dr Paulo Oliveira (Vice-President of IFCN) – Participants – Ms Rosa Pires (Head of the Monk Seal Project at IFCN), Dr Luis Freitas (Marine Biologist – Director of the Science Unit, Museu da Baleia – Madeira), Mr Panos Dendrinos (PhD Biologist, President of the Council of the
MOm/Société Hélénique pour l’Etude et la Protection du phoque moine, Greece), Spyros Kotomatas (Leader of the Living Cyclades project,
WWF Greece), Mr Joan Gonzalvo (Program Manager Ionian Dolphin Project, Tethys Research Institute, Italy), Mr Harun Guçlusoy(Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Turkey), Mr Pablo Fernandez de Larrinoa (Head ofNGO CBD Habitats, Spain), Mr Philippe Gaubert (Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution de Montpellier, France (ISEM), University of Montpellier, leader of the “Monk Seal genetics” project supported by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation).
Guest: Dr Raquel Vasconcelos(CIBIO-Inbio, University of Porto, Portugal).
H.E. Mr. Bernard Fautrier, Dr. Philippe Mondielli
Mr. Bernard Fautrier, Dr. Philippe Mondielli, Ms. Auriane Pertuisot of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, Mr. Robert Calcagno and Mr. Pierre Gilles of the Oceanographic Institute and Dr. Enric Sala of the Pristine Seas program , USA, were also present at the experts’ presentation of their work to the Prince.
H.S.H. Prince Albert II in the field
After attending the monk seal workshop restitution on September 6, 2017, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco made a point of visiting the field of operations in the presence of Mr. Miguel Filipe Albuquerque, President of the Regional Government of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, and discovering the natural habitat of the monk seal in the Desertas Islands Marine Protected Area, accompanied by Ms. Rosa Pires,IFCN Monk Seal Program Manager.
The Prince also climbed the steep slopes of Deserta Grande, following in the footsteps of his great-great-grandfather, Albert I of Monaco, 115 years later.
On this occasion, he met the teams responsible for protecting the monk seals in the field.
The Sovereign left Madeira on the morning of September 8.
Monaco's involvement
On September 6, 2017, the meeting of global monk seal conservation experts was organized at the initiative of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.
This workshop attested to the critical situation of the Monachus monachus species. It also opened up new avenues of hope, demonstrating the positive results obtained when effective, controlled and coordinated protection measures are put in place.
the experts were able to pool their approaches to improving the protection of the species.
This sharing continued on April 12, 2018 at the Monaco Oceanographic Museum during the2nd Monaco Ocean Week.
In this interview from September 7, 2017, HE Mr.
Bernard Fautrier, Vice President of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, provides an update on the work of the Principality of Monaco and its Sovereign in this field.
The Prince Albert II Foundation is one of the founding members of the Monk Seal Alliance, launched in April 2019 to better coordinate and amplify actions led by international monk seal specialists.
August 28 to 31: Monk seal habitat inventory
September 5 to 7, 2017: a princely visit of a diplomatic, historical and scientific nature.
From August 28 to 31, Ms Rosa Pires and the IFCN team prospected for the first time several sites on the north coast of Madeira and the east coast of the Desertas, in search of caves with submerged openings.
These caves may be used by monk seals for resting or breeding.
This survey completed the inventory undertaken as part of the European project LIFE Madeira Monk Seal Project.
A few caves and cavities were located and explored, but due to their configuration (no beach, or beach too small, no sufficiently large chamber), they do not appear to be places frequented or used by seals.
Near the town of Seixal, a cave with a long submerged corridor at a depth of 6 m was detected and will need to be explored during a subsequent mission.
An initial survey was carried out on August 21 and 22 in anticipation of the visit of Prince Albert II of Monaco on September 7.
Underwater encounters...
During the Monaco Explorations mission to Madeira, the monk seal was observed on three occasions:
- From September 4 to 7, an EDM team (Mr. Fabrice Schnoller, Mr. Olivier Borde, Mr. Frédéric Buyle) travelled to Deserta Grande on the IFCN sailboat Buteo , where they were welcomed by rangers Mr. Lourenço Alves and Mr. Clemente Abreu.
The team captured unprecedented images and, in a world first, a 360° video of the animals.
A pregnant female approached the divers.
- During the Prince’s ascent of Deserta Grande on September 7, two individuals could be observed from the summit moving on the surface.
- During on-site reconnaissance on August 21 and 22.
Training local veterinarians
On August 23, 2017, a training workshop organized by Ms. Rosa Pires (IFCN) and Dr. Luis Freitas (Museu da Baleia) was conducted as part of the European LIFE Madeira Monk Seal Project.
It involved training local veterinarians in the autopsy of a monk seal under real-life conditions.
Analyses of blood, tissues or organs, and observation of the dead animal (wounds or other external and internal signs of injury), provide very important information which can then be used to protect the species.
The Explorations de Monaco communications team (Thierry Apparu, Liz Factor, Olivier Borde, Fabrice Schnoller, Frédéric Buyle) covered the event.
The "Monk Seal Necropsy" veterinary workshop at the Museu da Baleia in Caniçal. August 23, 2017.
August 24 to 26: study of bird/whale interactions
Almost thirty species of cetacean frequent Madeira’s waters.
When these marine mammals feed by driving their prey to the surface, seabirds – particularly endemic species – can take advantage of the hunt and feed in turn by diving beneath the surface.
These interactions, often highly localized and fleeting, remain poorly documented.
Their study is invaluable for the conservation of marine mammals and birds.
The scientific program consisted of criss-crossing the south coast of Madeira in search of these interactions and taking photographs to document them.
It also involved studying the surface food web, day and night, taking samples of fauna (plankton, fish, cephalopods) for isotopic measurements.
A team at work
The team responsible for observing marine mammal/bird interactions was made up of Prof. José Pedro Granadeiro, group leader (UL*), Prof. Paulo Catry (UL*), João Morgado (MBC**), Mr. Luís Martim Almada Berimbau (MBC**) and Ms. Inês Cunha (MBC**).
Dr Luis Freitas (Scientific Manager, MBC**) was involved in the development of the program.
Numerous samples of plankton, fish and cephalopods were taken.
Pr.
Granadeiro explains here how zooplankton sampling is carried out.
(* UL: University of Lisbon; ** MBC: Museu da Baleia de Caniçal, Madeira)
Bulwer's petrel: a heritage species
Bulwer’s petrel, Bulweria bulwerii, is one of Madeira’s heritage birds.
This small, all-black bird feeds off the coast on fish and cephalopods.
It can be found for most of the year far from the coast and mainland, except when it gathers to breed.
At this time, the high cliff islands of the Madeira archipelago provide an ideal habitat.
Professor Paulo Catry talks about the dangers it faces and its way of life.
August 24 to 26, 2017: sedimentary study of a little-known area
September 5 to 7, 2017: a princely visit of a diplomatic, historical and scientific nature.
The underwater ridge linking the main island of Madeira to the Desertas, whose summit lies 80 m below the surface, shelters a remarkable but little-known biodiversity on its slopes.
In the absence of an ROV, this study involved deploying a mechanical dredger and taking sediment samples to study their nature and the living creatures that inhabit them in the laboratory.
The revelation of a hidden world
The team collected samples at 21 stations, at depths ranging from 8 to 122 m, at 3 different sites: the eastern slope of Ilheu Chao (Deserta Island), the Desertas-Madère ridge and the southern slope off Ponta de Sao Lourenço.
A total of 258 invertebrate samples were collected, including several specimens of hard, soft and black corals.
Other major organisms found during the campaign included maerl (calcareous algae) and a fragment of the kelp Laminaria sp, which may be the first record of this alga in Madeira.
Maerl beds are highly important marine habitats, given their ability to sequesterCO2.
Sediment study in pictures.
Team Sediment: a 100% female team
– Dr Andreia Braga-Henriques
Group Leader
Postdoctoral researcher specializing in deep-sea corals at theObservatoire Océanologique de Madeire Laboratory – Funchal Marine Biology Station (EBMF) Marine and Environmental Sciences Center (MARE).
– Ms Ana Nóbrega
Graduate student at theUniversity of Minho, Braga, Portugal – Intern at the Marine Biology Station in Funchal.
– Mrs. Elizaveta Akoulina
Doctoral student at the Federal State Institution “Federal Research Center for Biotechnological Fundamentals” of the Russian Academy of Sciences – Intern at the Funchal Marine Biological Station.
August 28 to 31: mapping marine habitats north of Madeira
While the south coast of Madeira is fairly well known and studied by scientists, the same cannot be said for the north coast, which is difficult to access, characterized by strong currents and often turbulent weather conditions.
Thanks to the EDMs and the Yersin, which move easily in these difficult conditions, the team of scientists in charge of this cartography was able to penetrate these little-visited areas for the first time, and to make unprecedented observations.
The report describes the complementary operations carried out by the sediment sampling team (August 22 to 24) and the mapping team (August 28 to 31).
Numerous lessons
A total of 11 dives, each involving 3 divers, were carried out, 7 on the north coast of Madeira, 1 south of the tip of Sao Lourenço, 3 east of Deserta Grande.
A total immersion time of 10.5 hours, at depths ranging from 12 to 29 meters.
11 new sites were visited, covering a total length of 8,500 meters.
2 new maerl beds were discovered at Ponta do Pedregal off Deserta Grande and at Ilhéu de Fora; 42 species of fish were observed, including 2 important species threatened by overfishing, the brown grouper, Epinephelus marginatus, and the porbeagle, Bodianus scrofa.
The cartography team
The team responsible for mapping marine habitats on the north coast included, from left to right in the photo: Ms Teresa Mafalda Gonçalves Jardim de Freitas Araújo (Director, EBMF*), Mr Pedro António Nobre Soares Pinto das Neves(CIIMAR-Madeira**), Dr Cláudia Correia da Silva Ribeiro (Ciimar-Madeira**) also assisted by the two IFCN members, Ms Rosa Pires and Mr Sergio Pereira.
(* : EBMF; / Estação de Biologia Marinha do Funchal ; ** CIIMAR-Madeira : Centro Interdiciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental da Madeira)
Chef de mission's first assessment
Orchestrator and coordinator of scientific activities in Madeira, the Selvagens and Cabo Verde, Pierre Gilles, Chef de Mission for Explorations de Monaco, is also Project Manager for the Ocean Policy Department of the Oceanographic Institute, Albert I Prince of Monaco Foundation.
After a week’s operations in Madeira, he gives us his initial impressions.
September 9th to 11th. The Selvagens:2nd phase of the Madeira mission
Selvagens Pequena © Pedro Vasconcelos. Explorations de Monaco.
Work completed
Two major operations took place between September 8 and 11:
Study of the herpetofauna of the Selvagem Grande and Selvagem Pequena islands,
General ecology, avifauna study, ringing and survey of the general situation (non-breeding birds, vegetation, pollution) on these two islands.
Underwater photography was also carried out off Selvagem Grande and Selvagem Pequena on September 9 and 10, under the supervision of Lt.Col.
Philippe Rebaudengo.
These operations were ably supported by the warship NRP* Douro, commanded by Lieutenant Pedro Carvalho, seconded by order of the Portuguese Presidency to monitor the EDM mission in the Selvagens.
*NRP: Navio da República Portuguesa
The wild islands
The Selvagens, literally “wild islands”, lie 160 km north of Tenerife and 280 km south-southeast of Madeira.
This archipelago is made up of three main islands – Selvagem Grande, Selvagem Pequena and Fora – and 12 islets and rocks.
The Selvagens are home to some 50 endemic species, including an impressive colony of grey shearwaters, seabirds long hunted for their flesh and feathers, used to stuff mattresses.
These islands offer unique landscapes of steep cliffs and desert moors as far as the eye can see.
This nature reserve is considered an ornithological sanctuary due to the exceptional nesting conditions for seabirds.
The herpetological fauna is also remarkable.
The scientific team
Dr. Raquel Vasconcelos(CIBIO-InBIO, University of Porto), Ms. Carolina Santos, in charge of marine protected areas at IFCN, Mr. Sandro Correia, ranger (IFCN), Pr.
Manuel Biscoito (Curator of the Funchal Museum of Natural History), Dr. Frank Zino (physician and ornithologist)
Frank Zino (physician and ornithologist) made up the scientific team.
They were supported in their various field operations by the Monaco Explorations team.
Herpetology: everything you need to know about Selvagens lizards
On September 9 and 10 at Selvagem Pequena, scientists and the EDM team sampled the various plants, set arthropod and lizard traps and captured lizard specimens, Teira dugesii and geckos, Tarentola bischoffi, which were released after each series of measurements.
Each specimen was sexed, measured and stripped to extract a small quantity of fecal material, which was then used to study the animal’s diet, intimately linked in this island system to nutrient inputs from the marine environment, notably via birds.
The tail end of each lizard or gecko specimen was also placed in an alcohol tube for phylogenetic studies.
Investigations continued on September 11 at Selvagem Grande.
Science on the move
The work carried out by Dr. Raquel Vasconcelos in the Selvagens Islands and subsequently in Cabo Verde has had many extensions.
In particular, Raquel Vasconcelos took part in the3rd Conference on Island Ecology, Evolution and Conservation on Reunion Island from July 8 to 13, 2019.
Two scientific publications resulting from this work are now available.
General ecology and ornithology: combating anthropogenic pollution
Between September 9 and 11, Dr. Frank Zino and his wife Elisabeth, and Prof. Manuel Biscoito and his wife Maria carried out various observations at Selvagem Grande and Paquena (non-breeding birds, vegetation, pollution).
They also banded fifty juvenile grey shearwaters , Calonectris borealis . The stomach contents of two shearwaters and a frigatebird, Pelagodroma marina, recovered by regurgitation, were to be studied at the Funchal Marine Biological Station, in particular to detect the presence of plastic waste.
This anthropogenic waste is accumulating dangerously on the Selvagem islands, which are far removed from civilization and human concentration.
In particular, it can cause intestinal obstruction in birds.
Other mission highlights...
... and a few highlights
Acknowledgements
Explorations de Monaco would like to thank all those who made this mission to Madeira and the Selvagens Islands possible.
HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco
The Government of Monaco and in particular the Department of External Relations and Cooperation,
The Republic of Portugal and the Autonomous Region of Madeira
H.E. Mr. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of the Republic of Portugal,
Mr. Ireneu Barreto, Representative of the Republic for the Autonomous Region of Madeira,
Mr Miguel Albuquerque, President of the Regional Government of Madeira
Mrs Susana Prada, Regional Secretary for the Environment and Natural Resources,
Mr. Paulo Cafôfô, Mayor of Funchal,
The Portuguese Navy, in particular Lieutenant Pedro Carvalho and the crew of the NRP Douro,
H.E. Mr Henrique de Polignac Mascarenhas de Barros, Ambassador of Monaco to Portugal,
H.E. Mr Claude Cottalorda, Monaco’s Ambassador to Paris, and Mrs Agatha Korczack, Second Secretary,
Prof. Manuel Biscoito, Curator of the Funchal Museum of Natural History, and his wife Mrs. Maria “Zé” Biscoito,
Manuela Aranha, artist,
Maria Paredes, Curator, Madeira Regional Archives,
Mr. Manuel Filipe, President of the Instituto das Florestas e Conservação da Natureza (IFCN), Funchal and the entire IFCN team, Mr . Paulo Oliveira, Ms. Dilia Menezes, Ms. Rosa Pires, Ms. Carolina Santos, Mr. Sergio Pereira, Mr. Jorge Câmara, Mr. Marco Camacho, Mr. Maurício Paixão, Mr. Sandro Correia, Mr. Lourenço Alves, Mr. Clémento Alves, Mr. Sergio Pereira Sergio Pereira, Mr. Jorge Câmara, Mr. Marco Camacho, Mr . Maurício Paixão, Mr. Sandro Correia, Mr . Lourenço Alves, Mr. Clemente Abreu, Mrs. Isabel Freitas,
Dr Frank Zino, ornithologist, and his wife Mrs Elisabeth Zino,
Pr José Pedro Granadeiro, Pr Paulo Catry, University of Lisbon,
Dr Andreia Braga-Henriques, Ms Ana Nobrega, Ms Elizaveta Akoulina, Ms Ana Nobrega, Ms Teresa Mafalda Gonçalves Jardim de Freitas Araújo, Dr Cláudia Correia da Silva Ribeiro, Mr Pedro António Nobre Soares Pinto das Neves, Funchal Marine Biology Station,
Dr Ana Nobrega, Dr Luis Freitas, Mr João Morgado, Mr Luís Martim Almada Berimbau, Ms Inês Cunha, Museu da Baleia, Caniçal,
Dr Raquel Vasconcelos, CIBIO-InBIO, University of Porto,
Dr Aurélien Miralles, Paris Natural History Museum,
Mr Pedro Vasconcelos, diving director and photographer,
Mr. Carlos Pestana Andrade, Centro de Maricultura da Calheta,
Pr Enric Sala, Pristine Seas, National Geographic,
Mr Panos Dendrinos, MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study Protection of the Monk Seal, Greece, Mr Spyros Kotomatas, Cyclades Life Project Leader, WWF Greece, Mr Joan Gonzalvo, Ionian Dolphin Project, Tethys Research Institute, Mr Harun Guçlusoy, Institute of Marine Sciences and Technology, Turkey, Mr Pablo Fernandez de Larrinoa, CBD Habitats, Spain, Mr Philippe Gaubert,
Mr Pedro Escudero, Mr Pedro Carrolo, Mrs Teresa Telo, Mrs Graça Maria Martins, Buggypower company in Porto Santo,
Mr. Mário Jardim, Madeira Electricity Company,
Mr. Antonio Jose Freitas Gomes, Mr. David Ricardo Henriques Luis, Mr. João Alberto Marques dos Santos Gomes and the Sea Scouts team, Funchal,
Mr Henri Perron, Mr Philippe Tondeur, Mr Jean-Louis Arranz, Mrs Marie Croizier, Mrs Fabienne Guiton, Mrs Giovanna Demichelis, crew of the Princier aircraft,
Mr François Fiat and his wife Mme Geneviève Fiat (✝), owners of the Yersin, Captain Jean Dumarais, Captain and all the crew of the Yersin,
Mr. Thomas Fouilleron, Director of the Archives and Library of the Prince’s Palace, Monaco,
Mr. Thomas Blanchy, Administrator of the Archives and Library of the Prince’s Palace, Monaco,
Jacqueline Carpine-Lancre, Historical researcher at the Palais Princier, Monaco,
Mr. Vincent Vatrican, Director of Monaco’s Audiovisual Archives,
H.E. Mr. Bernard Fautrier, Managing Director and Vice-President of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation,
Dr Philippe Mondielli, Scientific Director of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation,
Ms Auriane Pertuisot, Marine Project Manager, Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation,
Lieutenant-Colonel Philippe Rebaudengo, Aide de Camp to H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince, Diving Director,
Pr Yann-Erick Claessens, Dr Olivia Keita-Perse, Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace, Monaco,
Dr Philippe Afriat, Monaco
Dr Sylvie Dehours, Centre de Consultation Maritime Médicale, Toulouse, France,
Ms Marie-Catherine Caruso-Ravera, Director of Diplomatic and Consular Relations, Monaco,
Patrice Cellario, Government Counsellor – Minister of the Interior, Monaco,
Mrs Isabelle Bonnal, Director of Education, Youth and Sports, Monaco, Mrs Armelle Borro, Mrs Cécile Mouly ,
Ms Dominique Simon, Assistant to Colonel Bruno Philipponnat,
Alain Binsinger, Mr James Arslan ,
Francis Gianni and Ms Habiba Taouche, International School of Monaco,
Christine Oberdorff, Mathieu Massuard, Sébastien Decaux, Arnaud Mouillevois, Ushuaïa TV,
Noémie Olive, Reuters,
Ms Emilie Rousseau, Mr Sylvain Peroumal, Monaco Info,
Explorations de Monaco would also like to thank the crews on board the Yersin and those who worked at the rear base, as well as the staff of the Oceanographic Institute who helped to make the mission a success.
