Prince’s Government takes part in first meeting of Space4Ocean Steering Committee and UN conference on lunar activity

De gauche à droite sur la photo : Christian Hauglie-Hanssen, Directeur de l’Agence Spatiale Norvégienne ; Madin Maseeh, Président de l’Agence Spatiale des Maldives ; Aarti Holla-Maini, Directrice de l’UNOOSA ; Marianne Sivertsen Næss, Ministre norvégienne de la Pêche et des Océans ; Jean-Marc Astorg, Directeur de la Stratégie du CNES ; Olivier Minazzoli, Administrateur du Bureau des Affaires Spatiales de Monaco. Crédit photo : ©Agence Spatiale Norvégienne

The Prince’s Government took part in the first meeting of the Space4Ocean Alliance’s Steering Committee, held on 12 November 2025 in Oslo (Norway). This international coalition, launched during the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), is focused specifically on the use of space technology to protect and sustainably manage the oceans. As a founding member of the initiative, the Principality was represented at the meeting by Olivier Minazzoli, Director of the Monaco Office for Outer Space Affairs, who attended alongside a number of institutional, scientific and technical stakeholders drawn from more than 30 countries and organisations.

The opening session was chaired by Marianne Sivertsen Næss, the Norwegian Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy, who reiterated the importance of increased cooperation to combat illegal fishing. The Minister officially signed a declaration making the Blue Justice initiative, which falls under her ministry’s remit, a member of the Alliance, bringing Space4Ocean’s total membership to 32.

During the meeting, members established the Alliance’s initial strategic objectives, including improving access to satellite data, strengthening the links between maritime users and the space community, and fostering the development of innovative tools to monitor and improve understanding of the oceans.

The meeting also appointed Aarti Holla-Maini, Director of the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), as Chair of the Alliance. Madin Maseeh, President of the Maldives Space Research Organisation, and Eric Banel, French Director-General for Maritime Affairs, Fisheries and Aquaculture, were named as Vice-Chairs.

Continuing its efforts to engage on the international stage, the Office for Outer Space Affairs also took part in the Commercial Lunar Landscape and Policy Needs conference organised by UNOOSA in Vienna (Austria) a few days later. The event brought together experts, government representatives and industry stakeholders to consider the emerging issues associated with future lunar activities, including questions around the legal framework, lunar traffic management, navigation and international coordination.

By taking part in these two major events, the Prince’s Government is cementing the Principality’s role in international discussions on both ocean protection and the sustainable development of space activities.

The initiative, led by Norway, supports countries in the fight against illegal fishing and other maritime crimes by helping national authorities to share information, analyse data and cooperate on operations. Its accession to the Space4Ocean Alliance strengthens the concrete, operational aspect of the actions undertaken to promote sustainable ocean governance.