A European prince is coming to Korea to promote marine protection in the Asia-Pacific region.

Prince Albert II of Monaco will be here to host a marine protection conference at the Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea on June 4.

The Monaco Blue Initiative at the EXPO Hall will bring together international experts to discuss ways to help protect marine environments in Asia and around the world.

The conference is being organized by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation established by the prince to safeguard the world’s seas, along with the Oceanographic Institute.

Prince Albert has devoted much of his life to study and champion ocean conservation, inspired by his family’s work to protect the sea as well as his country’s geographic situation.

“Since my very young age I have been influenced by the writings of my great-great-grandfather Albert I and therefore been interested in environmental issues, and more precisely in the protection of oceans,” he told The Korea Herald via e-mail.

“My concerns in these fields were (legitimized) in regards of the geographic situation of the Principality. It highlights the need to protect our oceans and it’s a challenge we can’t ignore for the future generations.”

The 1.95 square-kilometer Principality of Monaco is the second-smallest country in the world after the Vatican City. But its maritime claim of 12 nautical miles (22.2 km) gives the tiny nation a strong bond with the sea.

The third edition of the MBI will host prominent attendees from more than 20 countries to discuss integrated management of marine protected areas and highlight innovative initiatives from the Asia-Pacific region, as well as sharing new perspectives of international cooperation for ocean sustainability.

The event  is to feature presentations by the presidents of the Pacific Island nations of Kiribati and Palau.

And Prince Albert said that marine protection issues were vital to the Asia-Pacific region.

“The Asia Pacific zone is culturally turned towards the sea. Its culture of the marine protected areas, such as reasoned exploitation and fish farming, is very interesting for all the participants, they can be inspired by these methods.

“Indeed, the urban and demographic constraints are really different from the Mediterranean region, and ecosystem management is adapted to those differences. That is why we are really pleased to deal with different approaches and experiences.”

While he acknowledged that marine protection could sometimes have negative effects on costal economies, such as impeding fishing, he said that a balance between business and nature could be achieved.

“When a protected area is created, everything has to be taken into account: conservation of species and habitats, but also all the socio-economic mechanisms that have been built throughout resources of this zone.

“That’s why economic opportunities and protection are linked. Marine Protected Areas are aimed at protecting biodiversity, and by doing this, they also preserved activities strongly linked with the abundance of resources. Hence the theme for this edition of the Monaco Blue Initiative: Marine Protected Areas: a win-win for biodiversity and economic development.”

The prince said that awareness of such issues was building as world leaders recognize the urgency to act. Marine protection will be discussed at the RIO +20 Conference later this month, proving greater mobilization on the issue.

Created in 2006, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation is supporting more than 198 marine projects on five continents. A fourth edition of the MBI will be held in Monaco next spring.

Prince Albert is visiting Korea with his wife, Princess Charlene. He and the former Olympic swimmer will also attend the Monaco pavilion’s national day on June 3 at the Expo organized on the theme of “The Living Ocean and Coast.”

By Kirsty Taylor (kirstyt@heraldcorp.com)