The Ocean Governance Symposium, organized by the Faculty of Arts of The Maldives National University (MNU), was held on 4 February 2026. This was the second symposium convened with the generous sponsorship of the Embassy of Japan in the Maldives, with the objective of strengthening the teaching and research capacity of The Maldives National University. The symposium further aimed to advance a regional approach to ocean governance and to identify responses to emerging challenges in the sector.
Ocean governance remains an underdeveloped area of research in the Maldives, in the absence of a comprehensive national statutory framework, as well as an integrated plan or dedicated institutional mechanism for ocean governance.
The symposium was inaugurated by the Minister of State for Fisheries and Ocean Resources, Dr. Amzath Ahmed. The inaugural session also featured addresses by the Vice Chancellor of The Maldives National University, Dr. Aishath Shehenaz Adam, and the Ambassador of Japan to the Maldives, Her Excellency Ishigami Rumiko.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Masanori Kobayashi, Senior Research Fellow at the Ocean Policy Research Institute of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation.
In addition to presentations by various faculties, colleges, and centres of The Maldives National University, papers on the theme “Regional Approach to Ocean Governance” were presented by the following national institutions:
- Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources
- Ministry of Environment and Tourism
- Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Attorney General’s Office
- Coast Guard (Maldives National Defence Force)
Furthermore, delegates from four regional countries bordering the Indian Ocean, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka participated in the symposium and presented research papers.
A non-governmental organization, Parley Maldives, also presented a paper during the symposium.
The symposium brought together policymakers, academics, practitioners, and regional experts to deliberate on shared challenges and to explore collaborative and coordinated approaches towards strengthening ocean governance in the Maldives and across South Asia.
