17e Edition of the Monaco Blue Initiative
MAY 27, 2026
Investing in the Ocean is no longer simply responsible. It is profitable. The Ocean has become an asset class in its own right. This is why we are changing the role of the Monaco Blue Initiative itself. From this year, it is conceived as a prelude to the Blue Economy and Finance Forum.
The Monaco Blue Initiative is a unique discussion platform which brings together every year, by invitation, the major players in the ocean sector to discuss in concrete and operational terms, as well as prospectively, the current and future global challenges of ocean management and conservation.
This event, organised by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco, provides a stimulating environment to encourage exchanges between private sector companies, scientists, decision-makers, major international organisations and civil society, in order to analyse and promote possible synergies between the protection of the marine environment and the development of a real and sustainable blue economy.
The recommendations resulting from the debates feed into high-level discussions and negotiations on the protection and governance of the Ocean, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the negotiations on Marine Biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction and major international meetings such as the International Congress of Marine Protected Areas.
Highlights of this 17th Edition
By creating a unique momentum aimed at bringing together political ambition, scientific expertise, and the mobilization of funding in support of ocean action, the participants emphasized the need to base decisions on scientific knowledge, strengthen international cooperation, and promote more operational approaches capable of transforming global commitments into concrete and measurable results.
Among the highlights of MBI 2026, GIST announced, in partnership with Hub Ocean, the launch of the first global datasets dedicated to ocean risks for investors in publicly traded equities. Scheduled for release in late 2026, these datasets will focus in particular on marine protected areas and sensitive ocean zones, with the aim of incorporating these risks into portfolio analyses and investment management strategies.
Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II and Princess Charlène of Monaco also announced a partnership between their two foundations, uniting their respective commitments to sports and ocean conservation. In his opening remarks, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco emphasized the fundamental role of cooperation between public authorities and economic and financial stakeholders.
