Annual report

A strategic alliance for the Mediterranean.

The Mediterranean no longer needs mere declarations of intent: its protection calls for strong, coordinated political action commensurate with the pressures weakening it. Faced with these threats to this exceptional ecosystem, science offers us one certainty: Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) represent our best line of defense to preserve biodiversity, mitigate the impacts of climate change, and secure the future of coastal communities. Yet, a line on a map is not enough to protect the Mediterranean. These benefits only become real if these protected spaces achieve true operational efficiency. This requires sustainable and structural financing. This is the mission undertaken by The MedFund, created at the initiative of the Principality of Monaco, France, and Tunisia. 20 MPAs financed across 8 countries by 2025: this was the ambition of The MedFund’s first strategy established in 2020. This goal was achieved thanks to a unique partnership approach. This success is above all collective, as it relies on the commitment of MPA managers, scientists, civil society, technical and institutional partners, as well as donors, whose mobilization now enables us to tangibly strengthen the protection of the Mediterranean. As Mediterranean countries have committed, under the global biodiversity framework, to protect at least 30% of marine and coastal areas by 2030, our sights are now firmly set on this milestone. Our ambition is to accelerate action, enhance the mobilization of resources, and sustainably secure the future of Mediterranean marine and coastal ecosystems.

Financing efficiency, measuring results.

While the economic wealth of the Mediterranean is undeniable, mobilizing capital commensurate with the stakes of its preservation remains a major challenge. Our conviction is clear: we must prove that investing in a Marine Protected Area generates a genuine return on investment, both ecological and socio-economic. To meet this challenge, The MedFund has developed rigorous performance indicators. This management of operational efficiency is essential: it guarantees total accountability to our financial partners and enables national authorities to rely on tangible evidence. While several scientific studies attest to this, tangible proof through concrete examples remains a powerful advocacy lever for the creation of new protected areas. For instance, in the Gökova Marine Protected Area in Türkiye, which The MedFund has supported since 2020, we have recorded three times as many at-sea patrols conducted by eco-guards, a four-fold decrease in illegal fishing, a 83% increase in fish biomass in strictly protected zones, and fishers catching twice as many fish outside these zones while seeing their income triple. These compelling results validate our model. May they encourage new partners to join our alliance. For in the face of growing pressures, we must go further and faster. Expand protection, strengthen management, and mobilize all stakeholders. The future of our common heritage is being financed today.