OLD MATES: Professor Francois Doumenge, former director of the Monaco Oceanographic Musuem and friend of the Puglisi family, prepares to disembark from the Lady Suzanne III with Joe Puglisi and His Serene Highness (HSH) Crown Prince Albert.

The prince and his fellow visitors were whisked away to meet with various tuna farm operators as well as to tour different facilities and companies around the city.

Also on hand at the airport was tuna industry spokesman Brian Jeffriess who said the visit should result in a two-way exchange of ideas for new fish farming opportunities.

Mr Jeffriess said he believed the prince's visit to Australia was specifically to come to Port Lincoln to learn more about the local aquaculture industry.

"They have a lot of experience with the farming of different species and we can learn a lot from them," Mr Jeffriess said.

A sovereign and independent state, the Principality of Monaco is located on the French Riviera on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, according to the official Monaco tourism web page.

It is the second smallest country in the world after the Vatican City.

The population of the Principality consists of 29,972 inhabitants and its surface area is 485 acres, of which nearly 100 acres were recovered from the sea during the course of the last 20 years.

It lies in a narrow coastal strip that rises vertically upwards with its highest point at 206 feet.

The Principality covers one square mile, and his Serene Highness Prince Rainier III is its head of state.

Tuna fact-finding mission for Prince

THURSDAY: Prince Albert of Monaco put on a frown when asked about his visit to Port Lincoln saying the weather was "terrible" and why couldn't we do anything about that.

But then he immediately laughed and said: "No, no; it was wonderful.

"I've had a wonderful welcome, everyone was very hospitable and it's been very interesting."

What impressed the Prince Albert the most was "the whole tuna industry and its efforts in trying to deal with overfishing in the right way."

"The farming program is a very interesting development in the business of fishing," he said.

The prince was on his way to New Zealand to perform royal duties while watching the America's Cup, where the Swiss are currently beating the Kiwis, when he decided to visit Port Lincoln.

Accompanying the prince was Francois Simard of the Oceanographic Museum in Monaco.

Sea bass were at one time farmed in the sea off the tiny Mediterranean principality, but now there was renewed interest in aquaculture with countries such as Spain, Malta and Croatia farming northern bluefin tuna.

"This is the main place for tuna fishing in the world where you have gone from fishing to aquaculture," Mr Simard said.

"This is very interesting, especially since it seems to be being done very well with no bad impact on the environment."

The prince was suitably impressed by his visit to Port Lincoln Tuna Processors where general manager Lindsay Guillot showed him all aspects of the recently expanded cannery including the state-of-the-art equipment used to package new tuna pouches.

The prince spoke to a few of the women on the production line, while the company's chairman and director local fisher Lavrie Gobin chatted to the prince about the local industry and the connection many local fishers to the Mediterranean.

"He was a very casual young man that could pass for an ordinary Aussie bloke," Mr Gobin said.

Another example of Prince Albert's easy-going nature occurred at the yacht basin at the marina where the Forrest and Chyer families holidaying at the nearby apartments just happened to realise there was royalty in their midst.

The prince was happy to pose in a photograph with the families, babies and all, while Australia's Consul to Monaco Andrew Cannon snapped away.

All during his visit, as in all official visits, the prince and his delegation had a lot to see in a little time.

At his side, whispering directions, was the prince's Aide de Camp Lieutenant Colonel Thierry Jouan who referred to him as "Monsignor".

The visit was in part organised through Mr Simard whose former director at the museum Professor Francois Doumenge is a mutual friend with the Puglisi family.

Joe Puglisi who hosted the prince during his stay including a trip aboard the Lady Suzanne out to the tuna farms and he said the whole delegation seemed to enjoy their visit.

He even predicted the prince would probably return some day, saying, "He'll be back."