"The ocean - that fascinating vastness, with many secrets still to be uncovered for a long time considered indestructible - has its future in our hands.
Confronted with unprecedented anthropic pressure, the health of the ocean and its ecosystems is threatened to the extent that we fear a point of no return.
In this race against time, it is more vital than ever that we join forces.
I would like to thank the generous donors and philanthropists who actively worked towards a sustainable ocean.
Their commitment has borne fruit across borders, through the actions implemented by my Foundation which is dedicated solely to the protection of nature and its biodiversity.
Let us hope that together we will be able to lay the foundations for a humanity built on respect for the sea and, more broadly, the planet.
Gathered here together for this wonderful occasion, let us be the voice of the ocean and take action for future generations."