HRH Prince Khaled bin Sultan has been honoured with the 2012 Perseus Award for exemplary effort as well as contribution toward marine wildlife conservation. He is a founder of the Living Oceans Foundation, helping scientists find out more about the world’s oceans. This is supported by Prince Khaled’s Golden Fleet, including superyacht Golden Odyssey, motor yacht Golden Shadow, as well as luxury yacht Golden Osprey.

Golden Shadow superyacht at anchor off the Croatian coast © 2012 Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation

A message from His Royal Highness Prince Khaled bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz: “As a young boy in Riyadh, I spent some time wandering the desert, and was surprised to find the fossilized remains of sea creatures. I realized then that much of the flat, endless desert of Arabia was in fact an ancient seabed.

This discovery led to a fascination with the unique geological evolution of my country, which came from an ocean floor, to a land filled with forest and wildlife, to the desert that it is now.  Years later, as I began to travel the seas and dive beneath them, my interest matured into a deep love for our oceans and the life they sustain.

I now have a passion for preserving and protecting the fragile balance of the seas, not only for my children but also for future generations throughout the world. I have been fortunate to be able to support scientists in their efforts to preserve marine environments, search for new medicines, map global weather changes, and discover the symbiotic interaction of reef organisms, knowing that healthy reefs are a crucial measure of the vitality of the earth itself. But what we have done so far is just the beginning.  There is much more that must be accomplished to guarantee the integrity of our oceans. That is why I look forward to a partnership with peoples throughout the world, working to benefit the oceans – and our future.”

Below is a video of HRH Prince Khaled bin Sultan accepting the 2012 Perseus Award: