Paul Ricard Oceanographic Institute
43°4′53.11″N 5°46′53.06″E / 43.0814194°N 5.7814056°E The Paul Ricard Oceanographic Institute is an
Île des Embiez. The island is in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in South Western France. Founded by Paul Ricard and Alain Bombard, the institute receives 25,000 visitors annually, and produces films and exhibitions to highlight marine life and issues.[1]
In an early case of
industrial pollution in the Mediterranean Sea, "red mud" was discharged at sea off the coast of the town of Cassis in Southern France.[2] Industrialist Paul Ricard campaigned against the pollution, and in 1966 founded the Observatoire de la Mer, which later became the Paul Ricard Oceanographic Institute.[2]
The public aquarium at the institute was opened in 1973, it was the third aquarium on France’s Mediterranean coast.oil slicks in 1981, this was used on beaches in Alaska in 1989, and in 1995 the institute was awarded the Grand prix de l’Académie des Sciences for its work.[3]
The institute is currently studying the
sea horse, the sea urchin, the Mediterranean pen shell, and has studied the impact of desalination of sea water.[4]
References
- ^ "Ricard - Awareness-raising". Ricard. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
- ^ a b "Ricard - Corporate sponsorship and citizenship FAQ". Ricard. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
- ^ a b c "Ricard - A brief history of the institute". Ricard. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
- ^ a b "Embiez - Oceanographic Institute". Embiez Island. Archived from the original on 23 May 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2013.