“The Mediterranean is a marine hotspot, not just a cultural one. It holds 10% of the world's biodiversity.” With that reminder, ocean and wildlife photographer Greg Lecoeur opened his session “Mediterranean: The Pelagos Sanctuary” at the Conservation Summit of the Xposure International Photography Festival 2026, using visual evidence to challenge how one of the world’s most visited seas is understood, used, and protected.
Drawing on years of underwater documentation, Lecoeur introduced audiences to the Pelagos Sanctuary, the only international marine protected area dedicated to large marine mammals. Established in 1999 through cooperation between Italy, France, and Monaco, the sanctuary covers 87,000 square kilometres and supports whales, dolphins, and a wide range of marine species whose survival depends on responsible human behaviour.
Through a sequence of immersive photographs, Lecoeur illustrated both the richness and fragility of the Mediterranean ecosystem. He underscored how mass tourism, maritime traffic, and land-based pollution intersect to place unprecedented strain on marine life.
“Approximately 360 million visitors come to the Mediterranean each year,” he said. “Eighty percent of marine pollution here comes from land. Thirty percent of global maritime traffic passes through this region.”
Lecoeur stressed that the environmental pressures facing the Mediterranean are inseparable from everyday consumption patterns. “What we eat, what we buy, how we travel — all of it reaches the sea eventually,” he noted, urging audiences to rethink their relationship with marine environments beyond the shoreline.
The session also highlighted Lecoeur’s non-profit initiative We Are Méditerranée, which combines scientific expeditions, photography, film, and public outreach to build awareness of marine biodiversity. The initiative works across exhibitions, conferences, and public spaces , including airports and city streets, to make conservation visible beyond traditional environmental forums.
“Our role is to reveal both beauty and fragility,” Lecoeur said. “If people understand what is at stake, they are more likely to protect it.”
Lecoeur’s presentation formed part of the Xposure 2026 Conservation Summit, which brings together photographers, filmmakers, and scientists to examine environmental challenges through visual storytelling. Held under the theme A Decade of Visual Storytelling, the 10th edition of Xposure features 95 exhibitions, more than 3,200 artworks, and over 570 visual events at Aljada, Sharjah, until 4 February 2026.
