Seakeepers Attend A Day of Exploration at the Yacht Club de Monaco

On 23 March 2026, The International SeaKeepers Society attended A Day of Exploration at the Yacht Club de Monaco, hosted in partnership with The Explorers Club. The event formed part of the Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting Rendezvous Programme and brought together leading voices in exploration, science, and conservation. Through a series of presentations, expert speakers shared their work and their vision for the future of the ocean. Daniel Caceres Barta shared his vision for Protecting Peru’s Big 5. Kakani Katija from the MBARI Bioinspiration Lab presented developments in marine biodiversity data collection incorporating AI. Trevor Wallace shared updates from one of SeaKeepers at sea initiatives, The Menorca Shipwreck Project. Attendees were given insights into the charismatic narwhal by Martin Nweeia. One of the highlights of the day was the session by Navarana K’avigak’ Sørensen, who was born in Uummannaq, Thule in Northwest Greenland in 1947 and moved to Qaanaaq, Greenland in 1953. She emphasised how we are all connected and encouraged everyone to work together for a better planet. Philippe and Ashlan Cousteau spoke passionately about their family’s legacy of ocean conservation. Andreas B Heide presented his work in Greenland and the Arctic. He specialises in eDNA, right whale studies, ROV deployments, and whale documentation. Throughout his expeditions he creates educational content to be shared openly. Victor Vescovo and Espen Øino shared their vision for a new 23-metre vessel. The vessel will be capable of mapping the seafloor for 300 days a year using the latest sonar technology for government, academic, and non-profit access. Many agreed that a highlight of the day was the session by Sylvia Earle and Hussain Aga Khan, titled The Ocean in Popular Imagination. Sylvia Earle’s message was particularly compelling. She emphasised that today’s children have the knowledge and awareness that our planet is in crisis. She highlighted the fragility and the wonder of life on Earth and reminded the audience that we still have the power to protect it.

The International SeaKeepers Society attended the event to connect with global experts and further its involvement in ocean exploration and conservation initiatives. The event forms part of the Captain’s Day of Exploration collective initiative. This is a long-term vision that positions Monaco as a global platform for innovation, sustainability, and ocean exploration. The programme highlighted how exploration, science, and storytelling can drive ocean conservation. A key message came from Sylvia Earle, who emphasised the urgency of protecting the ocean and the scale of human impact. The event reinforced the importance of collaboration and the role of individuals and organisations in safeguarding the future of our oceans.