The 3rd Meeting of the Signatories of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks was organised by the Department of External Relations and Cooperation. It was opened on Monday, December 10th, at the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco.
It was attended by Isabelle Rosabrunetto, General Manager of this Department. Robert Calcagno, Director General of the Oceanographic Institute, Albert I Foundation, Prince of Monaco, was elected Chairman of the meeting.
In her welcome address, Miss Rosabrunetto emphasised that “Monaco’s commitment to the sustainable management of oceans, seas and their resources makes them a natural ally of international organisations dedicated to the protection of biodiversity. […] It is in this sense that in 2011, it appeared relevant for the Government to sign the “Memorandum of Understanding sharks”.
Until Friday, the representatives of the 48 Signatories, including the European Union, will take part in work whose objective is to evaluate the conservation plan adopted at the previous session, in 2016. The 150 experts present will also have to consider the need to designate new species of migratory sharks to benefit from enhanced preservations.
Under the umbrella of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks is the first instrument dedicated to the protection of sharks.
It aims to achieve and maintain a favourable conservation status of these species, through policies based on the best scientific information available and taking into account their socio-economic value.
Through its awareness-raising activities, particularly those undertaken by the Oceanographic Museum, the Principality actively participates in the preservation of these endangered species.
It should be noted that 60 to 270 million sharks are killed each year.