A bold new exhibition at the Musée Océanographique explores the fate of a sea in crisis

For millennia, the Mediterranean has shaped civilisations, sustained economies, and inspired explorers. It is home to more than 17,000 marine species, many of which exist nowhere else. Despite its ecological wealth, it is also one of the most endangered seas on Earth. Pollution, overfishing, and climate change have pushed its ecosystems to the brink.

Monaco, a long-time world leader in ocean conservation, is once again taking action, reinforcing its longstanding commitment to preserving the Mediterranean. On 29 March, the Principality’s Musée Océanographique opened Méditerranée 2050, an ambitious new exhibition designed as a unique, immersive space-time journey which brings visitors face to face with the past, present, and potential future of the Mediterranean. Across 1,000 square metres, it blends cutting-edge technology, scientific expertise, and interactive storytelling to illuminate what is at stake, and what can still be saved.

A Sea at a Crossroads

The Mediterranean covers less than 1% of the world’s ocean surface, yet it supports an extraordinary concentration of life. It harbours an exceptional biodiversity: 17,000 species, almost twice as many as the Great Barrier Reef with “only” 9,000 species. The seagrass meadows of Posidonia oceanica, often called the “lungs of the Mediterranean,” produce oxygen and store carbon at a rate comparable to the Amazon rainforest. The sea is also an economic powerhouse, generating hundreds of billions of euros annually through tourism and fishing.

Despite its importance, it is in crisis. Its waters are warming 20% faster than the global average. Plastic pollution suffocates marine life. Only 1.5% of its waters receive meaningful protection, despite international commitments to safeguard 30% of the world’s land and oceans by 2030.

 
This is the backdrop for Méditerranée 2050, an exhibition designed not just to inform but to inspire action.

A Journey Through Time

The experience begins in the Temple de la Mer, where visitors cross glowing thresholds that signal their entry into a different dimension. At the heart of this space, massive digital projections bring the sea’s history to life.

Photo © Dreamed by Us

The first section, Oceanomania, showcases the Mediterranean as it once was. A four-metre-tall sperm whale sculpture dominates the room, its body illuminated with moving images of the sea’s biodiversity. Interactive exhibits trace how ancient mariners, explorers, and scientists first charted its depths and uncovered its hidden ecosystems.

In Oceano Monaco, the focus shifts to the principality’s long-standing commitment to ocean conservation. From Prince Albert I’s pioneering expeditions in the late 19th century to the current environmental initiatives of his great-grandson Prince Albert II, Monaco has played a crucial role in marine research and policy. Visitors can take part in an educational game, stepping into the role of a marine reserve manager and making real-time decisions that shape the fate of an underwater ecosystem.

Photo courtesy and © Natja Igney

The third section, Oceano Odyssey, propels visitors into the future. A state-of-the-art projection system simulates a dive into the Pelagos Sanctuary, a marine protected area of 87,500 km2 stretching from Monaco to France and Italy, comparable in size to the land surface of Austria or South Carolina. This is a critical habitat for whales, dolphins, and other marine life, reinforcing the urgency of conservation efforts like Méditerranée 2050. It shows a vision of the Mediterranean as it could be: revitalised, teeming with life, and safeguarded by effective conservation policies.

Photo © Artisans des Idées

From Observation to Action

The final section, My Oceano Med, shifts the focus from spectacle to engagement. Visitors are invited to pledge concrete actions, from reducing plastic waste to supporting marine conservation policies. A massive digital display tallies these commitments in real time, demonstrating the power of collective action.

Conservation efforts beyond the museum walls are already making an impact. In Greece, the noble pen shell, a giant mussel that once faced near-extinction, is showing signs of recovery. Along France’s Mediterranean coast, loggerhead turtles are nesting in growing numbers, an indication that habitat conservation is working.

Photo © Musée Océanographique

The Oceanographic Museum’s Commitment to the Mediterranean

Méditerranée 2050 is the latest in a series of ambitious conservation efforts led by the Musée Océanographique. The museum has long been a centre for marine research, public education, and policy advocacy, playing a key role in Monaco’s wider environmental strategy.

Founded by Prince Albert I in 1906, the Musée Océanographique has over a century of history dedicated to marine sciences. For many years, numerous informative yet accessible activities, exhibitions, and initiatives have drawn attention to the cause: one such example was the 2023 inauguration of the permanent exhibition The Prince and the Mediterranean to highlight the efforts Prince Rainier III’s, the current Sovereign’s late father, to protect ocean health. In 2019, the museum opened a sea turtle rescue centre intended to educate visitors about the lovable reptilians and their habitat. The museum has also played an active role in Monaco Ocean Week, an annual event that brings together scientists, policymakers, and conservationists to drive solutions for sustainable ocean management.

Photo © M. Dagnino – Institut océanographique

These initiatives, along with Méditerranée 2050, reinforce Monaco’s global leadership in marine conservation. For over 100 years, Monaco has been paving the way toward a sustainable ocean, bringing together a wide range of committed stakeholders on its territory. Among them, Les Explorations de Monaco serve as a key platform for HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco’s dedication to advancing ocean knowledge, promoting sustainable management, and ensuring its protection. The next mission, focused on the Mediterranean, is set to take place in Greece in the fall of 2025.

A Call to Action for Everyone

Méditerranée 2050 is so much more than an exhibition. It is an urgent wake-up call and a demand for action. The Mediterranean’s future is not yet written, but its trajectory is clear. The choices made today will determine whether it remains a cradle of life or becomes a cautionary tale.

For visitors, the message is simple. The sea has given so much. Now is the time to give back.

Visitor Information

Musée Océanographique de Monaco,
Avenue Saint-Martin, 98000 Monaco

Open daily, 10 am to 7 pm (July & August: 10 am to 8 pm)

https://www.oceano.org/en/

Tel: +377 93 15 36 00

All photos courtesy Musée Océanographique or as otherwise credited