HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco honoured in Gijón by Wild Oceans FilmFest for his commitment to ocean conservation

HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco has been awarded the Honorary "Saving the Oceans" Award by the Wild Oceans FilmFest (WOFF), in recognition of his longstanding commitment to marine conservation, biodiversity protection and the fight against climate change. Carol Portabella, President of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation in Spain, accepted the award on his behalf at the awards ceremony held on november 6th, at the BIOPARC Aquarium in Gijón.

“It is both an honour and a great pleasure for Wild Oceans FilmFest to present this award to HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco. His leadership as President of the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco, his diplomatic influence in championing marine conservation and the work of his Foundation have all contributed to the development of international legislation and initiatives focused on protecting endangered species, establishing marine sanctuaries, safeguarding water resources and tackling climate change and plastic pollution across the world's oceans. We are therefore deeply grateful for the role His Highness has played, and continues to play, in saving our oceans. It is in recognition of this commitment that we are presenting him with an award bearing this very name at our fifth edition,” said Fernando González Sitges, Festival Director and Director of the Bioparc Foundation.

Over the past 20 years, through the work of my Foundation, and even before that, I have come to understand one thing: if we are to make a real difference, we need to inspire and engage as many people as possible. Because changing the world starts with changing the way people think,” said HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco.

Environmental photography comes to Gijón as the Foundation celebrates its tenth anniversary in Spain

The presentation of this award in Gijón holds particular significance in a year when the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation is celebrating the tenth anniversary of its Spanish branch, marking a decade of work to foster dialogue, cooperation and partnerships in support of sustainability. In June 2026, the Foundation, BIOPARC Aquarium and Gijón City Council signed a cooperation agreement to promote sustainable development, marine conservation and environmental awareness, opening up new opportunities for joint initiatives in Spain.

One tangible expression of this collaboration is the arrival in Gijón of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation's Environmental Photography Award Exhibition, which is on display on the esplanade at the entrance to BIOPARC Aquarium from 2 November 2026 to 8 January 2027. The exhibition offers visitors different perspectives on the natural world and helps raise awareness of the importance of protecting biodiversity.

“Accepting this award in Gijón is particularly meaningful. This year, we have embarked on a new chapter of collaboration with BIOPARC Aquarium and Gijón City Council, and I hope this partnership will enable us to launch new initiatives and bring marine conservation closer to more people. Ultimately, it is about joining forces and ensuring that protecting our oceans is not just a concern for those of us who work in this field, but something that everyone feels connected to,” said Carol Portabella, President of thePrince Albert II of Monaco Foundation in Spain, after accepting the award on the Prince's behal.

©BIOPARC Foundation