High-level meeting during Monaco Ocean Week

With almost 1,000 participants, the 2nd Monaco Ocean Week took place between 8 and 14 April and set an impressive signal for the protection and preservation of the oceans. Launched by his Excellency Prince Albert II of Monaco, the event brought together scientists and policymakers, representatives of environmental organizations and the general public to highlight the vulnerability of our oceans to such factors as warming, overfishing and pollution. 

The Principality of Monaco has been involved in marine research for more than 100 years. Initiated by the great-great-grandfather of the current head of state, Prince Albert I already established connections to Kiel and the Cape Verde Islands - a network which has been re-intensified in recent years. For example, in 2016 a major international conference on marine research in the Mediterranean was held in Kiel, Germany. On that occasion the patron of the congress, Prince Albert II was awarded the German Ocean Award. 

The GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel has been conducting research on a broad range of topics in the area of the Cape Verdean Islands for many years. These include studies on biodiversity, low-oxygen zones, effects of global warming and geological processes in the volcanically active zone around the archipelago. Since the end of last year, GEOMAR is operating the Ocean Science Centre Mindelo (OSCM), a research and logistics centre on the Cape Verde Islands. Prince Albert II was one of the first to visit the OSCM in September 2017 as part of the Monaco Exploration Campaign aboard the research yacht Yersin. GEOMAR is also actively involved in this project.

During of Monaco Ocean Week, GEOMAR Director Prof. Dr. Peter Herzig, the President of the Republic of Cape Verde, Jorge Carlos Fonseca, and Prince Albert II of Monaco agreed to foster their alliance in marine research. "We have agreed on a closer cooperation between GEOMAR and oceanographers in Monaco and the Cape Verde Islands," said Professor Peter Herzig. "Specifically, we are thinking about increasing the participation of researchers from both countries in GEOMAR expeditions, and we are planning a joint workshop in Kiel," Herzig continued. In addition, a meeting of the heads of European marine research institutions under the patronage of Prince Albert II is planned for 2019 in Monaco. "We want to take a first step towards a European Space Agency for marine research," the GEOMAR Director concluded.

Contact:

Dr. Andreas Villwock (GEOMAR, Communications & Media), Phone: +49 431 600-2802, presse(at)geomar.de