The 2025 edition of the Indemer International Conference, held under the high patronage of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, marked the 40th anniversary of the Institute of Economic Law of the Sea (INDEMER), created in 1985 by Prince Rainier III…
This milestone gathering brought together legal scholars, policymakers, and experts to address contemporary challenges in maritime law and ocean governance—issues that have become more pressing than ever in the face of increasing geopolitical tension and environmental degradation.
This year’s theme focused on the evolving uses of the sea and the erosion of legal frameworks meant to protect marine environments. Participants examined how some states are increasingly contesting or bypassing international instruments such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), thereby weakening the protective legal system for oceans. Despite these challenges, the conference emphasised that solutions exist, particularly through better dissemination and understanding of existing legal frameworks.
The event also reflected on recent advances, including the historic 2023 United Nations agreement to protect marine biodiversity on a global scale. However, attendees noted that future progress may be complicated by shifting political landscapes, particularly a potential shift in U.S. posture toward ocean governance.
Looking ahead to the upcoming Blue Economy and Finance Forum in Monaco and the third United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, the Indemer conference sounded a clear call: to reaffirm the oceans as spaces of shared knowledge, peace, and prosperity—an urgent mission for the decades to come.
Image: Photo by Benjamin L. Jones
