WHO WE ARE ?

Our vision

Better understanding the human impact on our oceans

Because it is Swiss, and because, in its own way, it carries the “spirit of Geneva” from which it was born, Pacifique conceives and leads its expeditions in a humanist spirit of sharing knowledge, and of meeting and exchanging ideas between actors from all horizons of oceanographic issues: governmental, economic, scientific, cultural and civil society.

Our objectives

For 20 years, Pacifique has been defending the values of human solidarity and environmental awareness in favor of people and the oceans. To this end, Pacifique organizes its multidisciplinary expeditions around three axes:

scientific missions with recognized institutional partners (universities, associations, etc.) to observe, understand and map the state of the oceans. The sailing ships offer the international scientific community the opportunity to carry out long-term research programs or one-off missions.

socio-educational reintegration missions with the Swiss judicial and educational authorities. On average, around twenty young people in disrupted situations benefit from these placement measures as part of the “Jeunes en Mer” program.

awareness-raising activities for the general public, with artists “in residence” on board, exhibitions, conferences, publication of books or magazines, videos, etc.

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Scientific missions

Socio-educational “Jeunes en mer”

Artistic activities

A CONTEXT
FAVORABLE
FOR OCEANOGRAPHIC
RESEARCH

In 2021, the Decade of Ocean Sciences for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) begins. This initiative, decided in 2017 by the United Nations, aims to mobilize the scientific community, political decision-makers, companies, and civil society around a common program of research and technological innovation.

A proclamation that marks the importance of preserving the oceans for future generations, and in which the scientific and awareness-raising programs carried out aboard the Fleur de Passion and Le Mauritius sailboats are participating.

This decade underlines the importance of citizen science, defined as “science carried out by citizens who are not professional scientists”, an endeavour in which Pacifique has been involved since its creation.

Justification

Pacifique’s action is part of a global context that makes it more urgent than ever to better understand the human impact on the oceans, on an ecosystem that is still largely unknown despite its vital nature for humanity.

0 %

of habitable marine areas remain poorly known in terms of biodiversity, and therefore of management

0 million

of marine species are still scientifically unknown

millions of km₂ of seabed remain in total and permanent darkness

people have explored the deepest point of the oceans, while 12 have walked on the Moon

only the seabed is mapped at high resolution

History

2002

Pacifique is born

2008

With Fleur de Passion, Pacifique takes part in the 50th World Congress of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Barcelona.

Juillet 2009

In Marseille, Fleur de Passion was christened after six years of restoration in the presence of Albert Falco, expedition leader on Cdt Cousteau’s Calypso.

2009 - 2014

Under the patronage of UNESCO and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Pacifique led Fleur de Passion’s first long-distance expedition, The Changing Oceans Expedition, to the Mediterranean, Atlantic, North and Baltic Seas, the Red Sea and the Caribbean, during which she conducted various scientific programs in partnership with various academic institutions and international NGOs.

Avril 2015 - Septembre 2019

Aboard Fleur de Passion and with the support of the Canton of Geneva, Pacifique is leading its second major expedition, The Ocean Mapping Expedition, a 4-year round-the-world voyage in the wake of Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan some 500 years later.