MONACO OCEAN WEEK 2018: THE HIGHLIGHTS
Monaco
The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and its partners will be organising the second edition of Monaco Ocean Week, from 8 to 14 April 2018. Aimed at finding solutions to protect the marine environment, notably in the face of the challenges posed by climate change, the event will be launched in Edinburgh, with the Monaco Blue Initiative, and continue in the Principality of Monaco.
MONACO BLUE INITIATIVE
Over 80 stakeholders involved in the management and protection of our oceans – government policy-makers, institutions, scientists, members of the private sector and civil society – will gather for the 9th edition of the Monaco Blue Initiative, organised in partnership with the University of Edinburgh.
The Members of the Monaco Blue Initiative want to lay the foundations of a new development model for the ocean, for our blue planet. A development that offers new activities, new services, whilst respecting nature, whilst conserving marine ecosystems and recognising the invaluable services that they already provide. The Marine Protected Areas approach is of key importance in this action. 3 sessions of discussions and debates are proposed:
Overview of the development of the Blue Economy in the northern seas in comparison with other regions of Europe and the world,
Marine Protected Areas and climate change,
Aquaculture and Marine Protected Areas
Monday 9 April, 9 am to 5 pm, Edinburgh (Scotland)
MONACO EXPLORATIONS FEEDBACK AND RESULTS 

Focus on "Sargasse algae" (invasive algae that are spreading across the Caribbean coastlines) and "Cabo Verde" missions (species study and research, in particular focusing on the Cape Verde giant skink, an endemic lizard around 40 cm long, which is currently believed to be extinct).
Wednesday 11 April from 5 pm to 6.30 pm
CONFERENCES/DEBATES TO RAISE AWARENESS AND INITIATE NEW ACTIONS
Marine activity in SIDS (Small Island Developing States) in response to climate change: lessons learned from COP23 and prospects for future action
Tuesday 10 April, 1 pm to 3 pm
Technological advances to reduce carbon emissions in large ocean-going yachts
Tuesday 10 April, 8 pm
Mediterranean "small-scale" fishing: fishing is the solution, not the problem! Wednesday 11 April, 1 pm to 3 pm
The conservation of the Monk seal, a Critically Endangered species Thursday 12 April, 10 am to 4 pm
Toxic microalgae and the risks the pose for the environment, food and health
Four workshops will be held during the week, with the conclusions on Thursday 12 April, 11 am to 12.30 pm
BLUE FINANCE WORKSHOPS
Environmental Fund for Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas Marines (MPAs) workshop: feedback from global Environmental Funds (Latin America, Africa and the Mediterranean) to increase our understanding of sponsors' expectations. Linking institutional sponsors and private foundations
Friday 13 April, 9 am to 12 pm
Responsible ocean development investment opportunities: this event will focus on issues such as transport, offshore renewable energy, sustainable fishing, energy transition plan funding and maritime activities.
Friday 13 April, 2.45 pm to 4.15 pm
FILM SCREENINGS, FOLLOWED BY A QUESTION-AND-ANSWER SESSION
Fragile Legacy: Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka’s amazing sea creatures, followed by a debate on “Art on Science”
Tuesday 10 April, 7 pm to 8.30 pm
Into the Arctic 3: 10 years of Arctic explorations, by the Canadian painter, Cory Trépanier
Wednesday 11 April, 7 pm to 9 pm
BLUE: screening of Disneynature’s latest film: a dive into the heat of the oceans to meet the amazing and fantastic creatures who life in a fragile aquatic world. BLUE film director and Tara Expeditions will be attending!
Thursday 12 April, 6.30 pm to 8 pm
SPECIFIC PROJECTS TO TACKLE PLASTIC POLLUTION
Presentation of the BeMed 2018 awards: Plastic pollution in the oceans is one of the most worrying environmental disasters threatening our future. When plastic is dumped into the environment, it can take up to 500 years to disintegrate. During this event, this year's winners, who represent all the Mediterranean countries, will have three minutes to present their projects and will meet the 2017 project winners.
Friday 13 April, 5.30 pm to 6.30 pm
EVENTS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
“From the sea to our plates”: How to choose and consume sustainable seafood products to ensure the ocean remains healthy. Free samples of sustainable seafood products prepared by the Mr.Goodfish Chefs
Wednesday 11 April, 12 pm to 1 pm
Photo exhibition on cetacean conservation in response to the negative impacts caused by anthropogenic activities.
Tuesday 10 April, 6 pm to 6.55 pm
"Let’s take on the ocean, the future is blue", Conference by Yvan Griboval, Marin explorer, Director of OceanoScientific Expeditions
Thursday 12 April, 5.30 pm to 6 pm
"Monaco’s commitment to coral reefs”: Presentation of the conclusions of the workshop on regional solutions to save coral reefs from ocean acidification and other environmental stress factors, followed by the screening of the film, “Chasing Coral”. The film’s director, Richard Verves, will attend the event.
Friday 13 April, 7 pm to 10 pm
AWARENESS-RAISING EVENTS FOR CHILDREN
Fun workshops to increase our understanding of plastic pollution: schoolchildren aged 9 to 12 will discover the extent of plastic pollution in the oceans and how it effects humans and the environment through a range of interactive quizzes: “Tide surprises”, “Sea quiz”, “Ocean heroes”, “Message in a bottle” and “Waste deterioration time”.
Friday 13 April, 2 pm to 4 pm
Presentation and installation of marine nurseries (biohuts) in the port of Monaco, in order to help conserve fish populations.
Thursday 12 April, 10 am to 12 pm / Saturday 14 April, 10 am to 12 pm (open to the public)
ONE HUNDRED WELL-KNOWN FIGURES WILL ATTEND
In addition to many actors from the scientific community and international organisations, Monaco Ocean Week will also be attended by self-taught lovers of the sea such as:
Jorge Carlos FONSECA, President of Cabo Verde
Sylvia EARLE, Marine biologist, explorer and member of Ocean Elders
Keith SCHOLEY, Filmmaker “BLUE”, Disneynature
Romain TROUBLE, Director of the Tara Expeditions Foundation,
Aldine AMIEL, Kahi Kai Association,
Juan ARBELAEZ, Colombian chef based in France
Dr. Drew HARVELL, Marine biologist from the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at 
Cornell University
Cory TREPANIER, Canadian landscape painter and filmmaker
Yvan GRIBOVAL, Marine explorer, Director of OceanoScientific Expeditions
Pascal PETIT, Emeritus Director of Research in Economics, CNRS
Nicolas IMBERT, Director of Green Cross France & Territoires
Peter THOMPSON, Special Envoy for the Ocean, United Nations
Paolo GUIDETTI, CNRS-University of Cote d’Azur
Angélique BRATHWAITE, Marine biologist
Jean-Pierre PHILIPPE, Professor of Economics, Expert in development strategy of island economies
etc...