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BIODIVERSITY PROTECTION / STEERING COMMITTEES IN BRIEF | 115

RENEWED COMMITMENT
TO THE MEDITERRANEAN

MONK SEAL

On 22 March 2022, during Monaco Ocean the various funding streams (public, private,
Week, the members of the Monk Seal Al- green and blue Funds…) as well as future
liance, renewed their commitment to the challenges and opportunities. A presen-
protection of this endangered species. In tation was also given on progress made
the presence of HSH Prince Albert II of in terms of communication, such as the
Monaco, the members of this organisation launch of a website and the production of
signed a 3-year extension of the Memo- an institutional video, providing a foretaste
randum of Understanding formalising their of this new chapter in the history of the Al-
partnership. liance.

A Monk Seal Alliance steering committee
also took place in hybrid format in order
to offer all the members the opportunity
to hone the action plan for the upcoming
years. Focus was placed on the mobilisa-
tion of players in the monk seal commu-
nity with the setting up of workshops at
the beginning of 2023 and the selection of
themes for the Alliance’s next call for pro-
jects. A concerted approach was encou-
raged, through capacity building activities,
coalitions, exchange of information and
knowledge transfer between players.

Furthermore, the strengthening of concrete
actions adapted to anthropogenic threats
to the species (fishing, tourism, etc.) was
identified as a priority, as was the stren-
gthening of marine protected areas. An
overview was given on data monitoring,
the current situation of monk seal popu- © M. Dagnino
lations in each of the Alliance’s countries,
(from left to right): Olivier Wenden, Vice-President of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation / Vera Alexandropoulou,
Vice-President of the Thalassa Foundation / HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco / Paule Gros, Director of the Mediterranean
programme at the MAVA Foundation / Auriane Pertuisot, Coordinator of the Monk Seal Alliance.