In a show of international unity for ocean conservation, the Embassy of Monaco in the United States partnered with the French and Costa Rican embassies to host a high-level event in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, April 8. Titled Blue Talk – Getting Ready for the Third UN Ocean Conference, the gathering was held at La Maison Française and served as a curtain-raiser for two major international events focused on marine protection and blue economy development.
The event spotlighted preparations for the upcoming Third United Nations Ocean Conference, set to take place in Nice in June 2025, and the Blue Economy and Finance Forum, which Monaco will host on June 7-8 ahead of the global summit.
Opening the discussion, US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse – a leading advocate for ocean policy and co-founder of the Senate Ocean Caucus – stressed the urgent need for coordinated international efforts to protect marine biodiversity and expand sustainable ocean-based economies.
Monaco’s Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Maguy Maccario Doyle, reiterated the Principality’s longstanding commitment to ocean stewardship. She called for a broad coalition of public and private actors to drive concrete action, citing two flagship initiatives spearheaded by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation: the ReOcean Fund, a private equity vehicle focused on SDG 14 investments in regenerative blue economy ventures, and the Blue Economy Index, a new financial tool designed to help investors back ocean-friendly companies.
A recorded message from His Serene Highness Prince Albert II added further gravitas to the event. The Sovereign hailed both the upcoming UN conference and Monaco’s finance forum as key catalysts for accelerating the shift toward a sustainable ocean economy.
Two expert panels brought together voices from ocean law, conservation organisations, and the World Bank to discuss marine governance and financing pathways for a resilient blue economy.
With the countdown to the UN Ocean Conference well underway, the event reinforced Monaco’s role as a global advocate for marine health – and its belief that only through collective action can the tide be turned for the world’s oceans.
