Launched in 2010 upon the initiative of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, the Monaco Blue Initiative is a platform for discussion co-organized by the Oceanographic Institute, Foundation Albert I, Prince of Monaco and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. Its members meet annually to discuss the current and anticipate the future global challenges of ocean management and conservation. This event provides a valuable framework for fostering discussions between business, scientific representatives and policy makers and for analysing and highlighting the possible synergies between the protection of the marine environment and socio-economic development. The Monaco Blue Initiative held its 9th edition in Edinburgh, Scotland from April 8th to 9th, 2018. Hosted by the University of Edinburgh under the patronage of HRH The Princess Royal, Chancellor of the University, MBI 2018 gathered some 100 participants from around the world. Attendees from government and policy circles, international organisations, civil society, science and the private sector exchanged views and experiences around three themes: Blue Growth; Marine Protected Areas and Climate Change; and MPAs and Aquaculture. The Scottish venue provided the opportunity to look more closely at the North Sea and Arctic regions, which present specific challenges and opportunities in the context of climate change and growing food and energy needs. The day opened and closed with addresses by H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco and H.R.H. The Princess Royal respectively, and featured keynote speeches by UN Special Oceans Envoy Peter Thomson and Canada’s Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Dominic LeBlanc.

Blue Growth refers to the current and potential development of activities in the maritime space, from aquaculture, fishing and marine biotechnology to seabed mining, ocean energy and coastal tourism. While these activities contribute to national economies, Blue Growth raises many questions as to its environmental and social sustainability. With a focus on the North Sea and Arctic regions, this panel examined the challenges of ensuring Blue Growth was conducted responsibly, and explored the tools in place or in development to assist with this process.

While Marine Protected Areas can be one of the most effective tools for ocean conservation and restoration, it is increasingly apparent that they will not fulfil their function if they fail to integrate human concerns such as food security, poverty alleviation and economic and coastal resilience. Aquaculture is part of the solution to this equation, and its rapid growth makes it impossible to ignore, making it both a challenge and a potential opportunity for MPAs. Building on the previous year’s Monaco Blue Initiative discussion, the panel further explored possible synergies, in particular drawing on Scotland’s experience, which illustrates both the difficulties and the promise of aquaculture in protected waters.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have proven to be an effective tool to resist the growing threats to the marine environment and afford marine ecosystems greater resilience to the impacts of climate change. Healthier oceans provide greater adaptive capacity to climate change for both ecosystems and the people that depend upon them. In addition, MPAs covering habitats like mangroves, seagrass beds and salt marshes can mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon. While recent MPA growth has been impressive, it is insufficient both with regard to numbers and size to ensure effective conservation of ocean biodiversity and ecosystem services. The panel discussed how to make MPAs more effective by making them bigger and better connected, and to do so more quickly.

En juin 2006, S.A.S le Prince Albert II de Monaco a décidé de créer Sa Fondation afin de répondre aux menaces préoccupantes qui pèsent sur l’environnement de notre planète. La Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco œuvre pour la protection de l’environnement et la promotion du développement durable à l’échelle mondiale. La Fondation soutient les initiatives d’organisations publiques et privées dans les domaines de la recherche, de l’innovation technologique et des pratiques conscientes des enjeux sociaux.