Over the past few months, the Blue Pangolin Consulting team has taken part in a series of international gatherings spanning ocean governance, high seas protection, coral reef conservation and the financing of ocean action. From Brest to Mombasa, Monaco to London, these engagements have allowed us to listen directly to the institutions and communities shaping the early implementation of the Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), to advance our work on area-based management tools (ABMTs) and marine protected areas (MPAs), and to strengthen the partnerships on which effective ocean governance depends.
The Round Up
- Ocean and Climate Platform annual members’ meeting (Brest, 5-6 May 2026). Francis attended the first members’ meeting since Blue Pangolin Consulting joined the Ocean and Climate Platform in April 2026. This gathering brought together the Platform’s network to share ideas and set priorities for ocean and climate action and marked an important step in our continued engagement with the international ocean community.
- 17th Monaco Blue Initiative (Monaco 27 May 2026). Francis attended the Monaco Blue Initiative at the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, convened by the Oceanographic Institute and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. He co-moderated a breakout discussion, alongside The Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI), on priority areas and science in Areas-beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) contributing to a wider conversation on moving from international commitments to concrete action ahead of the first BBNJ Conference of the Parties (COP1) and supporting our current work to support the early implementation of the BBNJ Agreement.
- High-level conference on the RFMO-BBNJ interface (Brussels, 2 June 2026). Tom attended this dialogue convened by the European Bureau for Conservation and Development with the European Economic and Social Committee, examining how the BBNJ Agreement will interact with Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) and other relevant frameworks and bodies. His attendance helped inform our understanding of how the fisheries and environment communities are approaching the interface at the early stage of the Agreement’s implementation.
- 11th Our Ocean Conference (Mombasa, 16-18 June 2026). Tom joined ocean leaders and governments at the Our Ocean Conference, where Blue Pangolin Consulting convened a technical dialogue on advancing area-based management tools in the high seas of East Africa and the Western Indian Ocean, as part of our current work to undertake a mapping of prospective, existing and candidate ABMTs in ABNJ. The dialogue brought regional and international expertise together at a pivotal moment for high seas, to guide our study and next steps. The conference also provided an opportunity to connect with the Ocean Sewage Alliance, with whom Blue Pangolin Consulting will be working closely to provide strategic, technical, and policy support to advance global action on sewage and wastewater pollution.
IFRECOR: Status of coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangroves of the French overseas territories (2025) (Paris, 15-19 June 2026): Blue Pangolin Consulting, as the technical advisor for French Coral Reef Initiative (Ifrecor – Initiative Française pour les Récifs Coralliens) co-organised a technical workshop, on behalf of the French government, to finalise the production of the status of coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangroves of the French overseas territories 2025 to be released in November 2025. The workshop gathered about 20 participants from the 3 regions (Caribbean, Indian Ocean and Pacific) where the French Territories are home to coral reefs and related ecosystems.
World Oceans Reception (17th June, House of Commons, London): Hosted by Friends of the Ocean and the ICCF Group, this reception brought together more than 120 leaders from across politics, conservation, and business. The event provided an opportunity to connect with parliamentarians, ocean organisations, and partners to discuss the importance of ocean conservation and the role of collaboration in supporting coastal communities.
London Climate Action Week (London, June 2026). The team took part in London Climate Action Week, joining ocean-focused sessions including a High Seas reception, a discussion on the 30×30 target as a critical window for collective action, and the Beneath the Surface ocean summit convened under the #BackBlue initiative. These conversations reinforced the connections between high seas protection, the 30×30 agenda and the wider climate and ocean finance community. Blue Pangolin Consulting was also pleased to attend an all-female reception celebrating ocean leaders who turn ambition into action. The event highlighted the importance of collaboration, leadership, and diverse perspectives in driving effective solutions for the ocean. During LCAW, singer-songwriter and ocean activist EM The Master released “Don’t Stop Now“ : the official anthem of the Treaty, produced by Grammy-nominated Bruce Witkin and released in support of the #60toGlobal campaign, calling on all nations to ratify the Treaty ahead of the first Conference of the Parties (CoP1).
These engagements reflect the breadth of our continuing work across ocean governance, high seas protection, coral reef conservation and sustainable ocean finance. They are of particular relevance to our work supporting the early implementation of the BBNJ Agreement, closely connect to our coral reef work through IFRECOR and our broader engagement on international policy and area-based management. Just as importantly, they provided opportunities to reconnect with longstanding collaborators, build relationships with new partners, and exchange ideas across the growing ocean community. These conversations and partnerships are essential to ensuring that our work remains informed by the latest policy developments, grounded in practical experience, and responsive to the needs of those implementing global ocean commitments.
