Monaco’s Academy of the Sea, has opened its 2026 summer session, bringing together leading researchers, policymakers, legal experts and maritime specialists to examine the future of the world’s oceans and the growing challenges they face…
Held at the Méridien Beach Plaza on June 29th, this year’s programme is centred on environmental stewardship, strengthening cooperation across the Francophone scientific community and deepening understanding of marine ecosystems. Alongside established discussions on maritime law, ocean governance and security at sea, participants will also explore emerging topics including seabird conservation and the strategic importance of the Balkan and Adriatic regions.
Opening the session, speakers underlined the increasing pressures confronting the marine environment, from pollution and coastal degradation to the disruption of international shipping caused by global conflicts. With around 90 percent of global trade travelling by sea, they stressed that safeguarding the oceans is as much an economic and geopolitical imperative as it is an environmental one.
This year’s session also marks a major step forward for the Academy of the Sea with its integration into the network of the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie. The partnership links the academy with more than 1,000 universities and research institutions around the world, creating new opportunities for international collaboration and knowledge-sharing. Through the summer programme, organisers hope to generate practical ideas that will help shape future policy on ocean conservation and sustainable maritime development.
Image: Stephan Danna