Next generation to the discovery of Monaco Educational Marine Area by AMPN.

Monaco incorporates two marine protected areas into its marine urban space. A unique circumstance in the Mediterranean environment. Since 2018, the Aire Marine Éducative - AME (Marine Educational Area) has been developing a science-based awareness training on marine biodiversity and key sustainable issues ddressed to the next generation. The AME is animated by the Association Monégasque pour la Protection de la Nature - AMNP (Monaco's Association for Nature Protection) in partnership with the support of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and the Gouvernement Princier (Princely Government) who is being constantly appointing new Ambassadors of the Sea. On the 23rd September 2025, a fifth-grade class from François d'Assise-Nicolas Barré School was accompanied to the discovery of the marine area focusing on global warming and its impact on biological diversity.

Dr. Alexis Pey, researcher at the Thalassa Marine Research Centre, together with a dedicated staff from AMPN led the group of students between the Rainier III dike of Port Hercule and the mouth of the Port of Fontvieille, for their first discovery of the site. The educational journey was meant to introduce different terrestrial and marine habitats as well as the resident species which necessarily come into contact with highly anthropized areas.

Photo >> A fifth-grade class from François d'Assise-Nicolas Barré School accompanied by Dr. Alexis Pey and staff from AMPN to the discovery of Monaco's Marine Educational Area (Principality of Monaco, 23rd September 2025) © AMPN

The young students were involved in a participative workshop aimed at putting into words and images their first impressions, while detecting some keywords and a diagrammatic representation of "their" vision of the Aire Marine Éducative. This preliminary stage marked the starting point of a targeted journey to develop scientific edutainment. The main target is to enable them to grasp the importance of climate change, both at the global and local levels, and to prepare them to become future actors of sustainable change.

Photo >> The new mascot of Monaco's Marine Educational Area (Principality of Monaco, 23rd September 2025) © AMPN

On this occasion, the new mascot was presented to put an emblematic species within the AME: the Saupe, a marine bony fish from the Mediterranean and Eastern Atlantic.

The AME's mascot is addressing to its followers a friendly call for help, given the growing deterioration of Mediterranean marine ecosystems.

Thus, AME is increasingly committed to involve young generation in tangible actions and initiatives towards knowing and preserving that caleidoscopic environment made of fantastic creatures which populate Our Dear Sea, as the ancient Romans used to identity the Mediterranean Basin as Mare Nostrum. ***

✒️ Maurice Abbati

• Strategic Communication Specialist, Editor in Chief, Journalist, Executive.

• Lecturer and Author in English in the field of Environmental Communication to foster Circular and Blue Economy.