As part of the ongoing Monaco Explorations mission in Greece, Prince Albert II travelled on Thursday 9 October to the Sporades archipelago in the Aegean Sea, where he met with conservation experts working to safeguard one of the Mediterranean’s most fragile marine ecosystems.
The Sovereign embarked aboard a research vessel operated by Greece’s Natural Environment & Climate Change Agency (NECCA) to reach the island of Skopelos. There, he explored the island’s renowned sea caves — home to the elusive Mediterranean monk seal, a species that has become a powerful symbol of marine biodiversity and an urgent focus of conservation efforts.
Monaco has long been at the forefront of protecting the monk seal, through both the Prince Albert II Foundation and the Monk Seal Alliance, an international consortium supporting research, scientific collaboration and habitat restoration across the Mediterranean basin.
Reflecting on the visit, Prince Albert II emphasised the link between knowledge and conservation: “We can only protect what we truly understand. Learning to observe and respect marine life and its environment is the first step towards meaningful preservation.”
The Prince’s presence in the Sporades underscores Monaco’s enduring commitment to marine science and its partnerships with Mediterranean nations to preserve the region’s natural heritage.
