In the latest issue of Impact magazine, published by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, authors Olivier Weber and Simonetta Greggio offer a poignant account of their summer writing residency aboard a vessel in the Pelagos Sanctuary, a vast marine protected area spanning over 2,000 kilometers of coastline in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea, from France's Golden Isles past Monaco and toward Rome.
Invited by the foundation as part of its Pelagos initiative, the writers spent time in 2024 sailing, diving and engaging with a diverse array of stakeholders - including fishers, scientists, freedivers, ferry captains, cetacean observers and sea turtle conservationists. Their co-authored book, "A Summer at Sea," interweaves personal stories that capture the sanctuary's role as a haven for marine mammals, while underscoring human-driven threats to its stability.
Weber, a travel writer, senior correspondent and former United Nations diplomat who has authored around 30 books and covered numerous contemporary wars, described the experience as an "emotional and sensory adventure" that deepened his understanding of the interconnected chain of life in the sea. He highlighted the holistic cooperation among governments, economic interests and conservationists, noting the sanctuary's origins as a "paleo-ocean" and its potential as a global model for protection.
Greggio, in an excerpt from her onboard journal, evoked the awe of encountering dolphins as silent, regal companions, likening their presence to a royal retinue trailing the boat through their territory. Both authors emphasize the Mediterranean's generosity - toward humans, animals and plants - as "Mare Nostrum," the cradle of ancient civilizations, myths and abundant life, yet now in the "throes of death" amid modern pressures.
Through art and ecology, their reflections transform storytelling into a tool for ocean advocacy, urging greater awareness of this underrecognized ecosystem's beauty and urgency.
Photo credits: Frédéric Larrey