BEFF 2026, Season 2: a global commitment to say "Yes, We can" save the Ocean as an asset.

The Blue Economy and Finance Forum (BEFF) came back to Monaco's Grimaldi Forum from May the 28th to the 29, 2026, gathering global experts, investors, and policymakers to bridge the gap between ocean conservation and mainstream Sustainable Finance. Organised under the high patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco and co-organised by the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and the Government of Monaco, the Forum brought together a diverse consortium of participants, from private equity investors and pension funds to innovators and policymakers, to address the economic engine toward a truly sustainable and regenerative Blue Economy.

The global ocean economy generates roughly $ 2.5 trillion annually. Yet, sustainable financing for marine ecosystems gest stuck at approximately $150 billion (Source: United Nations Sustainable Development Group). Closing this massive ocean finance gap requires systemic shifts across several key fronts. Thus, nearly 300 key change-makers gathered in Monaco to take action on the matter with the target of securing a set of strategic financial commitments to reach up to €8.7 billion by 2030.

In His keynote speech, the Sovereign Prince of Monaco pointed out: « Only one thing now stands between the Ocean and the capital it needs: the decision to act. And a delayed decision is never neutral. The cost of waiting on the Ocean is documented, it is rising, and it is paid by those who come after us. Let me be plain: I will not ask whether the Ocean is investable. We have left that question behind us. I ask something harder. Invest in the Ocean now. Invest in it at scale. And invest in it as what it truly is – not a risk to be managed, but the defining opportunity of our time ».

Photo >> The keynote speech by H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco at BEFF 2026 (Grimaldi Forum, 28th - 29th May 2026) © Blue Economy and Finance Forum

The second edition of BEFF put on the spotlight high-level plenary sessions as well as thematic side-events and pitch sessions to showcase cutting edge projects and technologies to achieve the objectives on time.

The BEFF 2026 decisively moved past the question of whether the Blue Economy is investable, focusing instead on how to finance it at scale. By addressing the massive $175 billion annual funding gap, the forum showcased how to embed Nature as a driver of cash flow within mainstream financial tools. Discussions identified actionable pathways, including:

• Redirecting existing capital flows away from nature-negative operations;

• Pricing previously invisible ecosystem services;

• Rethinking the foundational rules and metrics of financial decision-making to prioritise ocean health.

Resilience Bonds & Biodiversity Credits, Parametric Insurance, and Outcome-Based Funds were mentioned as concrete mechanisms to hit the edge.

A standout highlight was the announcement by Amundi and Crédit Agricole of the creation of a three-year full business line for Natural Capital to make marine preservation and restoration projects highly investable for institutional players.

Decarbonising global shipping was another key topic covered in the debate. To be successful, it requires integrating immediate asset adaptations (e.g.: wind propulsion, hull lubrication, AI-powered routing, renewables and biofuels) with systemic overhauls like zero-emission green port corridors and broader ocean stewardship. These solutions will drive gradual emission reductions on board, helping shipowners meet international mandates set by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). Discussions around green corridors among ports, such as Shanghai and Hamburg, where only clean fuels are permitted, are emerging as a concrete lever to drive early adoption of zero-emission vessels. As a matter of facts, ports were identified as critical enablers, capable of electrifying operations, integrating shore-to-ship power, and introducing nature-based solutions such as mangrove protection. Moreover, they will be gradually transformed into energy grids, then significantly reducing local emissions and their overall carbon footprint.

Photo >> The Sovereign Prince of Monaco welcoming distinguished guests and institutions at BEFF 2026 (Grimaldi Forum, 28th - 29th May 2026) © Grimaldi Forum

Last but not least, experts agree that to meet future protein demands, sustainable aquaculture must scale significantly. As the global population continues to surge, securing a reliable, nutritious food supply is one of the defining challenges of our time. However, this vital expansion must be paired with rigorous environmental safeguards, particularly around feed production.

While fish farming is the fastest-growing food sector in the world, its growth has historically exerted pressure on marine ecosystems. Industrial sector must prioritise zero-waste and sustainable food sources rather than depleting wild fish stocks, being more transparent with consumers as they become more conscious of how their food is raised. In the Global South, it provides up to 60% of the protein consumed by local communities, acting as a primary driver of nutrition and local livelihood for hundreds of millions of people, pursuing the UN SDGs addressed to end hunger and reduce poverty.

In this regard, the Seaweed supply chain was highlighted as a credible and growing asset class, where investment is becoming profitable.

Tools like impact bonds and outcome-based finance are therefore gaining traction as practical ways to channel private investment directly into grassroots conservation, coastal resilience, biodiversity conservation and local value chains.

As Romain Ciarlet, CEO and Vice-President of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation underlined: « We now see growing mobilisation from investors, rapid technological innovation, unprecedented scientific consensus and a much clearer understanding that investing in the ocean is not only necessary from an environmental perspective, but also increasingly relevant from an economic and strategic one. Perhaps this is the most important message of this Forum (...) ». Robert Calcagno, CEO of the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco, concluded: « (...) Opposing “economic development” and “ocean protection” no longer makes sense. That conviction is precisely why the BEFF was created. (...) The BEFF seeks to act as the operational engine that turns this framework into investable action. One thing is sure – it is time to enter a new phase: the phase of implementation; the phase of acceleration” ». ***

✒️ Maurice Abbati

• Strategic Communication Specialist, Editor in Chief, Journalist, Executive.

• Lecturer and Author in English in the field of Environmental Communication to foster Circular and Blue Economy