The Assises de l’économie de la mer, a major annual meeting of the French marine and maritime community, took place this year in Nice on 14 and 15 September. Pierre Bahurel, Director General of Mercator Ocean International, held a presentation in front of President Emmanuel Macron and Minister of the Sea Annick Girardin during the “Ocean Exploration, the New Frontier” session.
The sustainable ocean: a priority for France
On September 3rd, during his visit to Marseilles, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that the next “One Ocean Summit”, modelled on the “One Planet Summit“, would be held in France. The aim of this summit will be to “bring scientists, economic actors, regional actors and the United Nations to the table to launch initiatives in terms of research, international jurisdiction and to try to build or complete this international law that will enable us to protect the ocean“.
A French ministry dedicated to the ocean, an example to follow
Since July 2020, Ms Annick Girardin, French Minister for the Sea, former Minister for Overseas (2017-2020), has been providing a new impetus in favour of France’s ambitions in terms of the protection and sustainable use of the ocean, and in particular with regard to ocean sciences. Her priorities? As she herself says, “training, growth, sovereignty, and solidarity are at the heart of the refoundation of this ministry, the first step in making the 21st century a maritime century“, echoing Emmanuel Macron’s founding speech at the Assises de l’économie de la mer in December 2019, during which he wished that the oceans be treated, protected and explored as a common good.
We were pleased to welcome Ms Girardin on 26 March 2021, to present our missions, activities, and projects. Read more…
“Ocean exploration, the new frontier”
It is in this very favourable context for the new French impetus for the oceans that the event Assises de l’économie de la mer was held in Nice on 14 and 15 September. Invited by Mrs. Annick Girardin, Pierre Bahurel, Director General of Mercator Ocean International spoke during a special session on major issues related to the ocean, in the presence of President Emmanuel Macron during the sequence “Ocean exploration, the new frontier”. Pierre Bahurel presented the French leadership in Europe and in the world in terms of ocean forecasting and more generally in terms of digital ocean, which Mercator Ocean International has been making available to all for several years: to industry and researchers, to environmental public policies and NGOs, to teachers and citizens. This knowledge shared with as many people as possible is reminiscent of the first projection of the globe, an unprecedented innovation still used in the marine maps of a certain Mercator in the 16th century… Ms Girardin concluded Pierre Bahurel’s speech by expressing her desire to build on Mercator Ocean International’s capacities and to transform its governance in order to create the digital ocean of tomorrow in France and at the heart of the European Union. This would happen during the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union from January to June 2022. It is an omen that honours the commitment and work of Pierre Bahurel, all the scientists and experts and the unfailing support of Mercator Ocean International’s shareholders.