Four decades after its founding, Monaco’s Institut du Droit Économique de la Mer (INDEMER) marked its milestone anniversary with an ambitious international colloquium on the future of the seas. Held on 8th and 9th May at the Hôtel Méridien Beach Plaza, the event brought together leading voices in maritime law, economics, and science to explore the rapidly shifting landscape of ocean use.
Under the High Patronage of Prince Albert II of Monaco, the two-day summit focused on Contemporary Issues in the Uses of the Sea, offering fresh insights into how the legal and economic frameworks surrounding our oceans must evolve in the face of mounting global challenges.
The Prince opened the colloquium by reflecting on INDEMER’s origins and enduring mission: “Founded by my father, Prince Rainier III, in the wake of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, INDEMER has become a vital force in ensuring that our relationship with the ocean is guided by knowledge, responsibility, and vision.”
Acting Minister of State and Foreign Minister Isabelle Berro-Amadeï echoed these sentiments in her address, hailing the event as a tribute to Prince Rainier III’s legacy of ocean stewardship. “This anniversary is not only a celebration of the past, but a reminder of how much remains to be done,” she said.
As the uses of the sea continue to multiply—from offshore wind farms to deep-sea mining—experts at the summit called for a bold rethink of ocean governance. With the blue economy expanding and environmental pressures mounting, discussions centred on the urgent need to modernise legal frameworks to ensure sustainability and inclusivity.
What emerged was a clear message: the future of our oceans lies at the intersection of science, law and economic policy. The colloquium provided a unique forum for shaping this future, uniting a broad spectrum of international actors in Monaco to map out new paths for cooperation and regulation on the high seas.
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Main photo credit: Manuel Vitali, Government Communication Department