Key takeaways from the 17th edition of the Monaco Blue Initiative

On Wednesday 27 May, the 17th edition of the Monaco Blue Initiative took place in Monaco, bringing together leading voices from science, policy, finance, the private sector and international organisations to advance concrete solutions for sustainable ocean governance and a resilient blue economy.

Held under the Presidency of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, and co-organised by the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and the Government of Monaco, this year’s edition marked a new step in the evolution of the Monaco Blue Initiative. With a renewed format designed to encourage more collaborative work, the event placed solution-oriented dialogue at the heart of the discussions, serving as a prelude to the Blue Economy and Finance Forum.

The 2026 edition gathered representatives from 24 nationalities and 88 organisations, with 43% of participants coming from the private sector. Across 6 solution-oriented workshops and contributions from 30 high-level speakers, participants explored how to turn political ambition, scientific expertise and financial mobilisation into measurable action for the Ocean.

This edition focused on several major themes, including:

Governance, with discussions highlighting the need for simple, comprehensive and standardised frameworks to scale blue finance, while ensuring that communities remain central to decision-making and that scientific, traditional and indigenous knowledge are fully recognised;

High seas and marine protected area protection, with participants underlining that the implementation of the BBNJ Agreement will depend on cooperation, information sharing, common rules and science-based approaches to conservation and sustainable use;

Finance, with a focus on equity, benefit-sharing and the role of clear frameworks, such as the Special Fund for BBNJ, in creating new opportunities for private sector participation and de-risking ocean investment;

International cooperation, with particular attention given to the inclusion of developing countries and Small Island Developing States in blue economy and ocean governance discussions;

Science-based decision-making, reaffirmed as essential to ensuring that global commitments can be translated into practical and accountable outcomes;

Ocean investment, with HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco recalling in His opening speech that investing in the Ocean is no longer only responsible, but also profitable, and that the Ocean is becoming an asset class in its own right.

The Monaco Blue Initiative is an event organised by the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and the Government of Monaco, with the support of Crédit Agricole Corporate & Investment Banking, CFM Indosuez Wealth Management, SBM Offshore and Velamar.

@Philippe Fitte MBI