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We distinguish in this chapter activities ad hoc research (surveys , studies environments or resources) , activities of "Monitoring" or followed , which involve monitoring in regular time biological parameters or social.The objectives are different according to the projects (see box),but the basic studies (Biodiversity inventories ,studies socioeconomic) and the development of monitoring MPAs are recurring targets

The prohibition of certain activities to certain areas or certain methods of operation resulting environmental degradation and / or pressure on resources may lead to a revenue loss for people. This loss may materialize in the short term only to eventually subside long term1 . To compensate for these losses and divert populations unsustainable exploitation activities resources , projects often propose to develop alternative development, or alternative activities income generation ( AAGR ) .

International recommendations on setting establishment of marine protected areas networks representative of the diversity of the marine world , have led in recent years major NGOs (WWF ,TNC , CI ) to develop process identify coherent networks of MPAs within homogeneous ecoregion , based on various criteria ( financial interest , biological, functional , resilience, etc.)

The sustainable financing of MPAs remains a major problem. Indeed once the projects have withdrawn, although many MPAs in place then crashed not becoming as AMP "paper" (example of Moheli in the Comoros). Gold funds from international or bilateral donors, like those of major NGO to finance the start of AMP and the investments they require (eg ships, buildings, demarcation buoys) fall within a period of intervention limited. These financings stop with the end of the projects, which often means a complete cessation of funding available, without that MPAs have robust solution to ensure a minimum operating costs. This does not mean there is no sustainable financing solution, but rather that projects often withdraw before they could firmly establish and professionalize sustainable funding mechanisms.

France has an important role and extensive responsibilities in protecting the world's oceans. It is the world's third largest maritime power with an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) covering 11 million km2, and has the fourth largest area of coral reefs representing biodiversity hotspots. According to a recent Nature Conservancy assessment, only 1% of marine areas (as against 12 % of all land areas) are officially protected today, despite government commitments under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity to place 10% of all marine areas under protection by 2012. Furthermore, only 4 % of coastal areas across the globe are under protective measures, and their coverage is very uneven (70% in New Zealand and less than 2% in the Mediterranean). Protection of the world's marine environment therefore still demands major efforts.