Interview with managing director of Monaco Explorations Robert Calcagno |02 November 2022
Mr Calcagno during the interview with Seychelles NATION journalist Laura Pillay (Photo: Louis Toussaint)
‘Western Indian Ocean explorations crucial to shaping ocean governance’
The Monaco Explorations expedition, on board the South African oceanographic and supply ship S.A. Agulhas II arrived in Seychelles' Aldabra atoll on October 19, from Mauritius and Reunion.
Initiated by Prince Albert I of Monaco over a century ago and spearheaded now by his great-great-grandson Prince Albert II of Monaco, the expedition is part of the commitment of the Principality of Monaco to the international community for the protection and sustainable management of the ocean.
Over the course of the expedition in the Western Indian Ocean, Monaco Explorations carried out various research and fields around the Aldabra Atoll, before stopping over on Mahé island, and then proceeding on to the Saya de Malha Bank.
The programme is guided by the four Monaco Exploration themes of coral protection, megafauna protection, marine protected areas, and new exploration techniques.
Seychelles NATION had a chat with the managing director of the Monaco Explorations Robert Calcagno about the expedition.
Seychelles NATION: How was the exploration and what does this means for Seychelles?
Mr Calcagno: Everything went wonderfully well, and the working and welcome of the Seychellois people and government is absolutely astonishing. We feel strong emotions in the quality of the work, and welcome of the people.
It was my first time in Aldabra, and it is really a jewel, a barrel of biodiversity, and we were clearly very enthusiastic to see how rich and diverse this atoll has been kept in the last 50 years.
The S.A. Agulhas II is 135 metres long with a beam measuring 22 metres wide. On board are over 100 people, including some 60 scientists, 30 students, two artists, photographers and members of the media.
Seychelles NATION: What kind of expeditions and explorations did you do on Aldabra? How does Seychelles fit into the explorations?
Mr Calcagno: The basis is primarily scientific exploration, but towards influencing better ocean governance. It is about influencing governments, but also through public outreach to communicate information to the general audience, to convince people, the younger generations, as well as entrepreneurs and corporations, to have more sustainable activities.
The objective of Monaco is to work on the global ocean ‒ there is only one ocean, it represents 71 percent of the planet, and it is very important for humankind for numerous reasons. Within the global ocean, there is the Western Indian Ocean. It is one of the most beautiful, richest and diverse oceans in the world, but at the same time it is one of the less explored, less investigated, and lesser-known.
Seychelles is a champion for ocean protection, and the development of the blue economy. It is among the countries at the top for sustainable ocean development. Aldabra, within Seychelles, is the pearl of all pearls, and it is very rich and intense. One of the main objectives was also to learn from Seychelles, and the Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF), from scientists working there daily. From there, we can maybe provide new technologies and equipment to go a little bit further, a little bit deeper, I may say.
Over the five days in Aldabra, Prince Albert II had the opportunity to pilot a remote-operated vehicle (ROV) as part of the expedition, reaching up to 700 metres which represents a record for Aldabra explorations. The scientists were able to capture video footage, collect samples and data, from the never-before explored depths.
Seychelles has collected very strong historical data from the atoll, collected by the SIF.
Thirteen Seychellois scientists embarked on the vessel on Sunday, as it sets off for 16 days of explorations in Saya de Malha. The Saya de Malha Bank is part of the Mascarene Plateau, a continuous shallow ridge connecting Seychelles in the north to Mauritius and Réunion in the south. It is thought to be teeming with life.
Six students have also joined the expedition, for the whole two months.
The vessel arrived on Mahé on Saturday October 29, a technical stop to allow for the change in scientists and crew. Cabinet ministers, ambassadors, and students had the opportunity to visit the vessel and interact with the team on board.
Seychelles NATION: What conclusions have you been able to draw from the Aldabra exploration?
Mr Calcagno: One of the projects we are doing is collecting and characterising plastic debris ‒ particles of plastic in the water. For that, we use some very specific tools that can filter huge amounts of water, and to collect very small particles. We analyse the particles chemically, but we also identify if the particles are causing viruses or microbes to the bio-diversity. The analysing of the data will take months, but we noticed already that there were less plastic debris and particles in Aldabra waters than in other parts of the Western Indian Ocean, or Mauritius. Around La Reunion for instance, the density of the particles was much higher.
We have data and also have some samples, and we received permission from the government to study them and work towards protecting them. For instance, we have a project ‒ the World Coral Conservatory ‒ and we use our global network of aquariums in the world to acquire different types of coral and we keep them under controlled conditions. It is like a coral bank.
A range of physical and chemical investigations are to be carried out on the route from Seychelles to Saya de Malha, including studies on currents, water temperatures, salinity, and acidity among other parameters.
Seychelles NATION: As a small island nation, Seychelles does not necessarily have a major carbon footprint. It does however feel the impacts caused by larger, developed nations. Based on your years of experience in the field, how do small island states go about protecting themselves?
Mr Calcagno: This is very true. You do not emit a lot of carbon dioxide but unfortunately, you are among the first to be threatened by climate change, for instance by sea-level rise, which is important especially for your coral atolls. Increases in water temperature can affect the biodiversity and the corals, and increases in acidity means plenty of consequences for you.
Monaco is working with the small islands within the United Nations (UN) in order to sensitise the largest, more developed and richer nations as it is important that these larger nations provide some financing and investment to Seychelles, to be able to cope with these climate change consequences.
Seychelles has done exceptionally well, and even in tourism, attracting quality tourism over mass tourism, and those visitors interested in nature, swimming and diving, has enabled you to become more sensible to ocean protection. Your culture is also an important aspect in Seychelles being a champion for ocean protection.
Seychelles NATION: Seychelles’ resources are very limited. How can the exploration bear fruits for the country?
Mr Calcagno: Monaco has a strong voice concerning ocean preservation. During the discussions between Prince Albert II and President Wavel Ramkalawan, Monaco committed to using its voice to support Seychelles.
When the mission is completed, it still will not be completed. The vessel will have completed its work by the end of November, but that will be the beginning of the research. The data and samples collected while on the mission will be analysed over one or two years, a process which we will do together. This will be followed by an analysis of the consequences of the research, because we are not doing science for science, but science for governance, to improve the sustainable development of the ocean.
We need to govern the ocean. For centuries the ocean remained a tough area to explore, to work on and to live on. As such, humankind developed the mind-set that the ocean is free for all as long as you are brave enough to venture into it. But we need to implement rules and regulations to protect the ocean.
Seychelles NATION: Seychelles relies a lot on its fisheries sector. Is it sustainable?
Mr Calcagno: This is why we need healthy oceans. Healthy oceans provide fish. It is sustainable for you, as long as we stick to eating fishes which the ocean can provide. We need to have quotas now and to collect only what the ocean can provide.
The economy, and human activities are mainly by the private sectors. Targeting the private sector is often the most difficult part, and once we have the results, we will then collaborate and try to influence the activities of the private sector, shipping companies and so on.
Laura Pillay
