A Minute to Understand Marine Protected Areas

These are designated marine areas aimed at preserving biodiversity, regenerating natural resources, and sustaining local socioeconomic activities (artisanal fishing, tourism).

Areas that are fully or strictly protected (with no fishing activity) accelerate the recovery of fish stocks and improve the resilience of ecosystems.

The Mediterranean is a global biodiversity hotspot seriously threatened by climate change, overfishing, pollution, and population pressure.

MPAs (particularly along the southern and eastern coasts) often lack stable and predictable long-term financial resources to cover their day-to-day management costs (patrols, scientific monitoring, governance).

The MedFund: Created in 2015 by France, Monaco, Tunisia, and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, The MedFund is an environmental trust fund that mobilizes public and private capital to provide sustainable financing to MPA managers and strengthen regional cooperation in the Mediterranean.