France, June 6 -- The ocean supports food, jobs and the climate systems that keep global weather in balance - but only 8 percent of it is protected, and money to safeguard the rest is critically lacking. This weekend, finance leaders and marine experts are meeting in Monaco for what many say is a make-or-break moment to close the funding gap and secure the ocean's future.

The Blue Economy and Finance Forum (BEFF) is one of three high-level events leading into next week's critical UN Ocean Conference in Nice (UNOC).

It brings together governments, investors and oceanographers to unlock new financing solutionsto protect and restore ocean healthand coastal livelihoods. Experts warn that without urgent action to close a multi-billion-dollar...