Bertarelli-Annual-Report-2023-R9-low (1) - Flipbook - Page 4
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Bertarelli Foundation
Humanity has, since the dawn of civilisation, looked to
faraway places with wonder, excitement and curiosity.
That yearning for discovery and exploration remains part
of the human condition to this day. In the last 70 years
we have made great strides in space exploration so that,
whilst once we looked to the moon, today we look to
Mars and beyond.
That need to explore and understand is very much
part of my family’s DNA; but instead of looking upward,
I am drawn to look closer to home. The ocean is a vital
part of the Earth’s engine which has, for generations,
been overlooked, mistreated and neglected. But my
family’s foundation is determined to do what we can
to correct this.
Introduction
That is why, working with partners around the globe, the
Bertarelli Foundation has helped create marine protected
areas in some of the most exploited oceans and seas. We
have played a part in the protection of over 2,000,000 km2
of ocean in every major basin on the planet.
But if these protections are to be targeted in the
places that need them most, and if these areas to be
properly managed, then it is vital that the most up-todate science is available to local communities, policy
makers and conservationists.
Recognising that the Indian Ocean is one of the most
understudied oceans and that there is less scientific
capacity in the region, the Bertarelli Foundation
has developed a collaborative and interdisciplinary
programme of marine science research. This brings
together experts from the world’s leading institutions
to work together to advance science which can be
applied to marine conservation.
Each year, I never fail to be impressed by the work of
the programme’s growing team of scientists, and this
year is no exception. Scientists spent longer in the field
than ever before, and using valuable data, published an
impressive body of high impact scientific papers. Thanks
to the hard work of an incredible team of scientists it is
clear that the outcomes of this work will be felt not just in
the Indian Ocean, but all around the world.
Ernesto Bertarelli