To mark its 50th anniversary, the Association Monégasque pour la Protection de la Nature (AMPN) has launched a photographic exhibition at the Galerie des Pêcheurs, offering a thoughtful look at five decades of marine preservation work in the Principality.
Opened on 7th November, the AMPN’s anniversary exhibition draws together archival and contemporary photographs that chart the association’s evolution since its founding in 1975. The location — the Galerie des Pêcheurs, set just beneath the Oceanographic Museum — offers a fitting backdrop for a retrospective that reflects Monaco’s long-standing connection to the sea.
The exhibition is structured around six key themes: protecting, developing, restoring, studying, innovating and raising awareness. These categories frame the AMPN’s main areas of focus, from the creation of Marine Protected Areas like the Larvotto and Spélugues reserves, to ongoing scientific research and outreach programmes aimed at the younger generation.
Recognising Monaco’s early leadership
The AMPN was created at the request of Prince Rainier III, who sought to position Monaco as a responsible actor in safeguarding the Mediterranean. The organisation has since led a number of pioneering initiatives, including the development of 3D-printed artificial reefs — a global first when installed in 2017 — and long-term studies into local marine biodiversity, particularly fish populations and seagrass habitats.
Through detailed visuals and clearly curated narratives, the exhibition offers visitors a chance to see how conservation efforts that began decades ago are continuing to shape the local marine environment today.
A moment of recognition for a longstanding commitment
The exhibition’s opening was attended by several high-profile figures, including Minister of State Christophe Mirmand, Prince Albert II’s special environmental adviser Bernard Fautrier, and Environment Minister Céline Caron-Dagioni. Their presence underscored the central role the AMPN plays in Monaco’s broader environmental agenda — one that increasingly involves collaboration between government, science, and civic society.
Alongside its fieldwork, the AMPN has also made education a key pillar of its mission. Initiatives such as the ‘Aire Marine Éducative’ give schoolchildren in Monaco the opportunity to participate directly in conservation efforts, a theme that is also visible throughout the exhibition.
Looking ahead with clarity and purpose
As the exhibition shows, the AMPN’s work is not only about protecting what exists but preparing for what’s next. With support from the Prince Albert II Foundation and the Princely Government, the organisation continues to publish its research in scientific journals and to advocate for policies that strengthen marine protections in the Mediterranean and beyond.
The exhibition runs until 4th January 2026 and is open to the public.
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Photo credit: Manuel Vitali, Government Communications Department