" Mediterranean 2050 Exhibition" - The Institute' s actions

Mediterranean Sea : Institute's Actions

30% MARINE PROTECTED AREAS BY 2030, 100% OF THE OCEAN MANAGED SUSTAINABLY…

The Oceanographic Institute is fully committed to the designation and management
of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) worldwide, and particularly in the Mediterranean, in support of the 30×30 objective.

To advance the conservation of this unique ecosystem, the Oceanographic Institute is working to mobilize key players with one ambition: to combine science, commitment and collective action.

The general public, if they become ambassadors for the Ocean, can influence decision-makers through their choices, their votes and their expectations of companies and politicians.

Companies urged to adopt business models that respect the Mediterranean

Political decision-makers are responsible for translating commitments into concrete action, in particular by identifying, creating and managing a coherent and effective network of MPAs.

By catalyzing these energies, the Institut océanographique, with the help of its partners including Explorations de Monaco, aims to shape a Mediterranean where conservation and economic development can coexist harmoniously, without clashing.

SCIENCE-BASED MOBILIZATION AND ACTION

To meet the challenges facing the Mediterranean, science must inform government action and influence economic players. The Institute of Oceanography advocates a scientific approach in the service of strong public policy, establishing a direct link between scientific knowledge and the decision-making process.

THE MEDITERRANEAN PROGRAM ORIENTATION BOARD (COMed)

In order to develop and optimize its actions within the framework of its thematic program, the Oceanographic Institute collaborates with leading experts from around the Mediterranean , with one objective in mind: to speak with one voice. The Orientation Concil of the Mediterranean programme, or”COMed”, brings together scientific and political experts and mediators from all shores of the Mediterranean, and mediators from all shores of the Mediterranean.

A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FOUNDATION FOR BIODIVERSITY RESEARCH

The Oceanographic Institute of Monaco, as part of the Mediterranean, is launching a study to assess the current status of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Effective Conservation Measures (AMCEZ ) in the Mediterranean basin. With the expert advice of COMed, this study aims to identify the obstacles to the effective implementation and management of MPAs, implementation and management, as well as the levers needed to overcome them. Using a mixed methodology and drawing on existing data, expert interviews and case studies, The aim is to propose operational solutions to political decision-makers, the private sector and local stakeholders. This study is being carried out in partnership with the Fondation for Biodiversity Research , WWF Méditerranée and the IUCN Center for Mediterranean Cooperation.

COMed members

Co-chairs: Susana Salvador (ACCOBAMS – Executive Secretary ) and Karmenu Vella (Former European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and
Fisheries, adviser to the Maltese Ministry of European Affairs and Trade ).

Secretary: François Simard ( Mediterranean expert, former head of global marine programs – IUCN).

Elham Ali (University of Suez – Professor of Oceanography and Aquatic Environment), Maria Betti (Former Director at the European Commission, former President of the Scientific Council of the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco), Mostapha Bousmina (National Academy of Sciences and Techniques Hassan II – Chancellor, Euro-Mediterranean Academy of Fez – President), Purificacio Canals (MedPAN – Former President), Giuseppe di Carlo (Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy – former Director, WWF Mediterranean Marine Initiative – former Director), Roberto Danovaro (Anton Dohrn Zoological Station, Naples – President), Maria Damanaki (The Paradise Foundation – Principal advisor, International Foundation SYSTEMIQ, Ltd – Principal advisor), Robin Degron (Plan Bleu – Director), Tatjana Hema (Mediterranean Action Plan – Coordinator), Elyes Hamza (RAC/SPA – Director), Nathalie Hilmi (Centre Scientifique de Monaco – Head of Environmental Economics Research), Maher Mahjoub (IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation – Director), Rimel Benmessaoud (Institut national agronomique de Tunisie – Researcher), Alessio Satta (WWF Méditerranée – Director), Karljin Steinbusch (Med Sea Alliance – Director), Romain Renoux (MedFund – Executive Director).

PUBLIC AWARENESS

To go beyond postcards and preconceived ideas about the Mediterranean, to understand this great sea and the challenges it faces, the Oceanographic Institute is launching a series of initiatives aimed at the general public. Their aim is to explain and raise awareness, while appealing to the emotions.

A MAJOR EXHIBITION: MEDITERRANEAN 2050

An immersive, interactive exhibition to encourage the more than 650,000 annual visitors to the Oceanographic Museum to take a different interest in the Mediterranean, and become involved in its protection, through a space-time journey to 2050.

IMMERSEAVE VR: IN THE HEART OF A MARINE PROTECTED AREA

This immersive experience offers visitors the chance to move around, like a diver, in a Mediterranean Marine Protected Area , and quickly the benefits of conservation. Wearinga virtual reality headset, the visitor moves freely in a world recreating three rich and thriving marine ecosystems. A unique opportunity to appreciate the importance of our commitment to preserving the Ocean.

SEASIDE ANIMALS

In our educational room, visitors can get up close and personal with the animals of the and learn more about the animals of the Mediterranean coast: crabs, starfish, sea cucumbers…. while discovering their particularities and their essential role in the ecosystem.

OCEANO CLUB: MARINE DISCOVERY COURSE FOR 6-12 YEAR OLDS

Over the course of a week, supervised by an educational team, children take part in a wide range of games and activities focused on the ocean and the animals that inhabit it. Activities focus on the Mediterranean Sea, with workshops on posidonia meadows, large cetaceans, the Pelagos sanctuary and Marine Protected Areas.

ACTIVITIES FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN

A range of workshops designed to accommodate students from kindergarten to high school around aquariums presenting Mediterranean ecosystems:

Interactive visit to discover species and their way of life.

Sensory workshop around a specially designed pool for interacting with flora and fauna.

Scavenger hunt in which participants, equipped with descriptive cards, recognize the emblematic species of the Mediterranean Sea.

An activity to discover the life cycle of sea turtles and understanding the conservation techniques used to protect them.

Workshop-debate on the impact of human activities on Mediterranean coasts and existing solutions. Naturalist tours of the seashore are also offered to observe and study to observe and study coastal species. An awareness-raising session on plastic pollution and the alternatives to adopting a daily commitment These walks in contact with the sea come to a close.

THE AQUARIUM REINVENTS ITSELF...

The Mediterranean Aquarium area will undergo a complete overhaul to offer visitors a unique, immersive experience. This ambitious renovation aims to reinforce the Aquarium’ s commitment to education and science. With spaces redesigned for greater comfort and a spectacular and a spectacular display of Mediterranean biodiversity, This transformation promises to make the public even more aware of the importance of preserving this fragile ecosystem. More than justa place for observation, the Aquarium will become a genuine tool for mediation and awareness-raising, conveying a strong message in favor of protecting the Mediterranean, and mobilizing everyone to take action for its preservation.

...AND BECOMES THE BRIDGEHEAD OF A MEDITERRANEAN AQUARIUM INITIATIVE

The Initiative Aquariums et Mediterranean Museums en faveur de l’objectif 30×30 (IAMM 30×30), supported by the Oceanographic Institute, aims to create a network of aquariums and museums to promote Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas and the importance of the “30×30” objective. By joining forces members of the initiative seek to raise awareness of marine conservation to marine conservation by sharing mediation and communication tools. Thanks to this platform for exchanging information and resources, messages will be amplified, and mobilize the millions of people who visit the aquariums people who visit the aquariums concerned every year.

THE OCEANO COMPETITION FOR EVERYONE AND THE COUNTRIES AROUND THE MEDITERRANEAN

The OCEANO FOR ALL educational competition is aimed at schools in priority education networks (REP or REP+), in rural areas, as well as Ulis and SEGPA classes, trains and supports tomorrow’s citizens in the necessary protection of the ocean through a collective, creative and project.

Throughout the year, selected classes receive tailor-made support from the Oceanographic Museum ‘s educational team , specialized in scientific and cultural mediation. Numerous online educational workshops are offered , covering the main themes of the day, offering a total of over 30 hours of exchange and knowledge-sharing per class.

For its 11th edition, the OCEANO FOR ALL competition will bring together 620 students from mainland France , Monaco and French overseas territories. In addition to the 31 classes taking part in the competition, the OCEANO FOR ALL program will also be supporting 5 classes ( almost 150 students) from several countries around the Mediterranean in an out-of-competition section.

AN AWARENESS CAMPAIGN FOR BIODIVERSITY

The Oceanographic Institute of Monaco is committed to the creation of Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean through its new awareness-raising campaign “What are we waiting for to be happy?“.

The campaign conveys a message of hope, features emblematic Mediterranean species and adopts a resolutely positive tone, to present concrete solutions to environmental challenges.

Through a joyful and emotional approach, it poses a key question: “What are we waiting for to be happy?” and proposes a concrete answer: “Marine Protected Areas“. The aim is to show tangible solutions, such as MPAs, in the conservation of marine ecosystems, and to remind us that there is still time to act to preserve the Ocean.

The nationwide campaign will enable everyone to , via a QR code redirecting them to the “My Oceano Med” web platform, choose your own MPA and, thanks to challenges to be carried out, see how their actions and commitment contribute to their evolution.