Monaco's Oceanographic Institute Launches Campaign for Southern Ocean Protection

The Oceanographic Institute of Monaco has initiated a significant awareness campaign titled “What Are We Waiting For to Be Happy?” to underscore the critical need for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Southern Ocean. This campaign marks the 65th anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty and seeks to rally public support for the "30x30" conservation target, which advocates for the protection of 30 percent of the world's oceans and land by 2030. This goal is a central element of the Global Biodiversity Framework established in 2022.

Featuring iconic Antarctic species, the campaign presents a hopeful outlook and offers actionable solutions to environmental challenges, emphasizing the pivotal role MPAs play in preserving marine biodiversity. The campaign is set against the backdrop of Monaco's longstanding commitment to marine conservation, highlighted by Prince Albert II's efforts which notably contributed to the creation of the Ross Sea MPA in 2016, one of the globe's largest sanctuaries.

The urgency of the campaign is magnified by ongoing negotiations within the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), which is considering the establishment of three new MPAs that would cover four million square kilometers across the Southern Ocean. These areas are essential for global biodiversity conservation and play a significant role in mitigating climate change by providing safe havens for species like penguins, whales, and krill, and allowing ecosystems to recover and thrive, thereby enhancing their ability to absorb carbon dioxide.