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GOUVERNANCE DE L’OCÉAN | 11

HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco alongside Dr Mahlet Naomi Mesfin (USA), Minister Jean-François Ferrari
(Republic of Seychelles) and Bud Darr (Swiss group MSC).

hoc initiatives to protect exceptional ecosystems Jean-François Ferrari, the Minister for Fisheries and
and endangered species. Now there is a global the Blue Economy of the Republic of Seychelles,
movement. And there is growing awareness of the corroborated the content of the Monegasque
fact that the ocean is not just another piece of the Prince’s speech and stated that “the Seychelles has
puzzle for our future, but that it holds within it most accomplished a lot in terms of ocean conservation
of the keys that will determine this future, from the and sustainable development in a short time”. He
climate to biodiversity, from food to health, from peace added, “more than two thirds of our archipelago’s
to the economy.” After listing the pivotal steps forward economy depends on the surrounding ocean and is
made in terms of international commitments and law, vulnerable to pollution, overfishing and the devastating
the Sovereign Prince nevertheless acknowledged effects of climate change”. The Seychelles Marine
that “this progress has not yet been enough to Spatial Plan now covers the entire 1.37 million square
reverse the trend of degradation – and sometimes kilometers of the country’s exclusive economic zone,
even destruction – of our ocean. On the contrary, including the Joint Management Area shared with
for 15 years these disturbing trends have continued, Mauritius, and is built on an inclusive, collaborative
year after year, and the findings of scientists are still approach that brings together all stakeholders.
extremely alarming”. The Head of State urged the “This has enabled the country to fulfil its national
ocean community to redouble efforts to make the and international commitments as we have already
voice of the ocean heard at upcoming international exceeded the 30x30 target,” pointed out the Minister
meetings and confirm the urgency to take action from the Indian Ocean.
based on acquired knowledge.
Mobilising the expertise of the key stakeholders
In addition to the three Monaco Blue Initiative panel in ocean conservation and governance, the blue
discussions, the programme featured speeches from economy and finance, politics and civil society, the
representatives of the governments of the Seychelles, Monaco Blue Initiative once again offered an
China, Portugal, Belgium and Greece, who took turns invaluable space for discussion and collaboration that
to review the ocean-positive shift their respective heralded an ocean-positive future.
countries have made.