Reconnaissance " - Three new attractions at Monaco's Oceanographic Museum

There's one word that sums up the spirit of this inaugural sequence: gratitude. Acknowledgement of the visionary creators of the "Jean Jaubert" tank, who more than thirty years ago demonstrated that it was possible for corals to live and grow in a closed environment; acknowledgement of those who have shaped our history and continue to make it shine; and finally acknowledgement of our patrons, whose trust and loyalty inspire us and carry us into the future.

Robert Calcagno, Directeur de l’Institut océanographique, Fondation Albert Ier, Prince de Monaco

BASSIN JEAN JAUBERT": WHEN INNOVATION AND THE PRESERVATION OF LIFE MEET...

The Oceanographic Museum is unveiling the complete renovation of one of its emblematic basins: a new showcase for a living treasure. Home to a genuine fragment of coral reef from the Red Sea, the "Jean Jaubert tank" offers a glimpse of the historic corals that were brought to the Oceanographic Museum in 1990. After more than 35 years in existence, this major restoration project has consolidated and modernised the structure, while guaranteeing the preservation of the nearly 80 coral colonies it houses.

The operation mobilised all the expertise of the Museum's technical and aquariological teams to recreate a coral reef as faithfully as possible:

  • on the living side: relocation, reintegration and acclimatisation of species, re-watering and biological rebalancing, etc. ;
  • on the technical side: increasing the volume of water, redesigning the décor, installing panoramic glass weighing 1.7 tonnes (the weight of an elephant!) and 10 cm thick, offering a more immersive view of the tank and its inhabitants...

A symbol of scientific innovation since its creation in 1990, this 38,000-litre tank, located in the tropical sector of the aquarium, was one of the first in the world to house a coral reef in an artificial environment. Designed following an expedition led by Professor Jean Jaubert to the Gulf of Tadjoura in Djibouti, this tank was the birthplace of the coral cutting technique - a unique skill now practised in aquariums the world over and which contributes to the international reputation of the Monaco Oceanographic Museum.

Completely restored, the tank now bears the name "Jean Jaubert tank", in tribute to its creator, a pioneer in the reproduction of coral reefs and director of the Oceanographic Museum from 2004 to 2007.

More than just an observation area, this tank is a conservation, educational and awareness-raising tool, in keeping with the mission of the Oceanographic Institute. It is an invitation to the beauty and curiosity of this fragment of the Red Sea and, above all, to the preservation of this living heritage.

An educational fresco animated by a digital projection using the mapping technique completes the display, enabling visitors to understand the vital role of coral reefs and to appreciate their fragility and beauty.

What is a coral cutting?

Coral cuttings consist of gently removing fragments of coral and attaching them to specific supports. These cuttings are then placed in tanks where the environmental conditions - temperature, light, salinity and water quality - are rigorously controlled to encourage their growth. On average, 300 coral cuttings are taken each year in the Oceanographic Museum's reserve and then installed in the aquariums.

CONFERENCE ROOM: WHEN HISTORY CONTINUES TO BE MADE...

Almost 40 metres long and covering more than 500 m², the Oceanographic Museum's conference room has embodied the Principality of Monaco's commitment to protecting the ocean for more than a century. Every year, almost 650,000 visitors pass through it, without ever imagining the great events and leading personalities - including the Princes of Monaco - who have taken part in major international meetings here over the years.

Today, new digital and complementary features are enhancing this memory, while underlining the central role of the Conference Hall as a place of transmission and commitment where history continues to be written:

  • A 12-minute film, shown continuously, combines archives and contemporary images to retrace more than a century of commitment: from the documents of Prince Albert I and the highlights of the reign of Prince Rainier III to the initiatives led by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and the Oceano community. The film concludes by inviting visitors to look up at the illustrated coffered ceiling, the jewel in the room's crown.
  • 8 sound modules offer an intimate immersion into the lives of the great figures who have left their mark on these premises. These include scientists, heads of state, business leaders and artists - including Captain Cousteau, Jean Malaurie, Anita Conti, Jean-Louis Etienne and John Kerry. Arranged along a chronological route organised around the reigns of the Princes of Monaco (Prince Albert I, Prince Rainier III and H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco), these listening points recreate a setting where "the walls speak to you" and where each voice committed to protecting the Ocean seems to speak directly to the visitor.
  • An information and news system at the entrance to the room allows visitors to access all the content of the sound modules and the film, even when the conference room is not accessible.

Memory of the conference room :

Over the decades, the Conference Room has been the scene of many memorable moments, including :

- 1905: Prince Albert I hosted the first trials of the Léger helicopter in the grounds of the future Conference Room - an early symbol of the link between scientific progress and exploration.
- 1959: Scientific conference on the elimination of radioactive waste, bringing together 300 scientists from 31 countries - Monaco opposed the dumping of nuclear waste in the Mediterranean.
- 2008: 1st Congress on Ocean Acidification - 155 scientists launch the Monaco Appeal to alert world leaders.
- 2008: Conference on the conservation of bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean - call for international protection and the introduction of fishing quotas, compliance with which has since enabled the species to make a comeback.
- 2010: 1st edition of the Monaco Blue Initiative (MBI) - a meeting of major ocean stakeholders to devise concrete conservation solutions. The event has become a major annual fixture on the Ocean agenda.
- 2019 : Presentation of the IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and the Cryosphere - a reference document to aid political decision-making, essential in the face of the climate emergency.

RECOGNISING THE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTE'S BENEFACTORS: WHEN STONE CELEBRATES COMMITMENT...

In the Salon d'Honneur, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco unveiled three new plaques paying tribute to the patrons, sponsors and donors of the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco. Much more than just a list of names, these inscriptions bear witness to a concrete and lasting commitment: financial support, actions undertaken and a constantly renewed confidence in the Oceanographic Institute.

Whether they are acting on behalf of an institution, a company or as individuals, these benefactors make many projects possible. Their generosity and loyalty form the essential foundation on which the Oceanographic Institute's major initiatives are built.

Carved in stone, these plaques symbolise the solidity and durability of these bonds of commitment.