At the 5th United Nations Ocean Forum in Geneva, the IOI delegation contributed to crucial discussions on maritime trade and ocean sustainability. Through active participation in side events focused on capacity-building, trade policies, and innovative ocean solutions, the IOI continues to advance its mission of fostering global collaboration and sustainable ocean governance.

From April 14 to 25, the first session of the Preparatory Commission for the Entry into Force of the BBNJ Agreement was held at the UN HQ. IOI’s Liliana Rodriguez Cortes attended the session, where critical discussions were held on governance, inclusivity, and the mechanisms needed to implement the BBNJ Agreement. Read on for a summary of key outcomes and the next steps in this vital process.

HE Prof Frida Maria Armas Pfirter, Judge, International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, and Director of the IOI Chile Training Programme, visited the IOI Headquarters on 24th April. During the meeting, the importance of strengthening ocean governance in Latin American countries, with a focus on the rule of law and regional cooperation, was cordially discussed.

The first IOI Alumni CPD webinar in the 2025 Series, focused for the first time specifically on the ocean economy, examining how trade and investment policies can align more closely with sustainable ocean governance and climate resilience.

Registrations are now open for IOI Ocean Academy free online Ocean Literacy modules to be delivered in Thai, Urdu and French. More modules in different languages are opening soon. Around 200 participants successfully completed IOI Ocean Academy modules since the beginning of the year.

IOI Chile launched its first Training Programme in Spanish at Universidad Autónoma de Chile, welcoming participants from across the region. Covering UNCLOS, the Blue Economy, and ocean management, the course featured expert lectures, field trips, and negotiation simulations. This programme marks a key step for the IOI in advancing ocean governance in South America.

Through its global training programmes on Ocean Governance offered since 1983, the IOI has contributed to the capacity development of more than 4,500 young practitioners from developing countries and countries in transition, building a growing global network of trained and empowered Ocean leaders.

IOI Ocean Academy's outreach continues to grow with IOI alumnus Monique Pool scheduled to deliver ocean literacy modules in Dutch out of Suriname. She joins the global network of the IOI in delivering ocean knowledge for all to target communities world wide.

The IOI global network welcomes Conor Savage as the new IOI Focal Point operating from Scotland, United Kingdom.

Awni Behnam, Honorary President and Behzad Alipour Tehrany, IOI representative, attended meetings in Geneva.