HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco Establishes Monaco Explorations: A Three-year Campaign of Scientific Explorations at Sea

New York (ots/PRNewswire) -

The transoceanic exploration vessel, Yersin, will depart from
Monaco July 2017 and return Summer 2020. The vessel will navigate
during three years the globe with the Monaco Explorations team
alongside scientific and media teams, and will visit nine areas to
conduct scientific research in remote locations on the sea.

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Initiated by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and with the support
of the Princely Government and the ship's owner François Fiat, the
Monaco Explorations campaign will continue the Principality's long
tradition of sea exploration as well as its influence in politics and
policies of sea conservation. The campaign provides a research
platform for dozens of scientists worldwide and aims to raise public
awareness regarding the research findings as well as the many threats
facing the seas today.

"The greatest ills the oceans suffer are the result of our
ignorance..." said HSH Prince Albert II at the press conference at
the United Nations headquarters on the eve of World Oceans Day.

"The ocean depths are in large part unexplored, the intermediate
areas almost ignored, marine biodiversity is widely misunderstood. We
struggle to identify the multiple threats and effects, whether it is
about the acidification of the oceans, about pollution, particularly
plastics, or about the weakening of some ecosystems, which are,
upsetting the balances of our seas. "

The first stop of the campaign will be in Macaronesia in the
Atlantic Ocean off the western coast of Africa. The focus on this
stop will include studying biodiversity and mega fauna, marking for
data collection, extracting environmental DNA, and developing a
deeper understanding of the chemical and biological effects of global
warming. Researchers will study little known but very rich areas of
biodiversity such as seamounts and, finally, there will be a focus on
the development of programs dedicated to protecting endangered
species and developing marine protected areas.

The Monaco Explorations campaign's scientific programs as well as
the equipment on the vessel were carefully selected by the Scientific
Steering Committee; a global team of internationally renowned
scientists who are also leaders of recognized research organizations
in marine biology.

The Yersin is a 250-foot classified "clean ship" and was built to
have as little environmental impact as possible. The ship includes
six scientific laboratories with the latest technological equipment.

"Research is expensive yet time at sea is essential," says
Scientific Steering Committee member Margaret Leinen, Director of
Scripps.

"Scientists need innovative and efficient infrastructures,
equipment and state of the art ships to conduct sampling and
observations that further our understanding of the ocean. Having this
ship, designed for science and on expeditions that will visit all
oceans is a significant opportunity thanks to Monaco Explorations."

ots Originaltext: Monaco Explorations
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
Thierry Apparu
tapparu@monacoexplorations.org
+33-6-20-72-07-09

Original-Content von: Monaco Explorations, übermittelt durch news aktuell