Our Ocean Conference 2026: Kenya to Prioritize Equity & Ocean Protection for the Global South
Mombasa, Kenya – The 11th Our Ocean Conference, scheduled for June 16-18, 2026, in Mombasa and Kilifi Counties, will be the first of its kind held on African soil. The conference, themed “Our Ocean, Our Heritage, Our Future,” aims to unite governments, communities, innovators and businesses to accelerate ocean action, with a particular focus on jobs, equity, and ocean health.
Since its inception in 2014, the Our Ocean Conference has spurred approximately $169 billion in commitments to ocean conservation and sustainable practices, encompassing marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries, and pollution reduction. Still, the tangible benefits of these pledges have not always reached coastal communities in the Global South, where overfishing, climate change, and pollution continue to threaten livelihoods and food security, according to conference organizers.
The conference’s location in Kenya is strategically significant, coinciding with the entry into force of the High Seas Treaty – formally known as the BBNJ Agreement – in January 2025, following ratification by 60 nations. This treaty establishes a framework for creating marine protected areas and regulating activities in international waters, which comprise nearly half of the planet. The implementation of the BBNJ Agreement will be a key test of whether the principle of the “common heritage of humankind” can translate into equitable outcomes for developing nations.
Former President of Seychelles, James Alix Michel, a vocal advocate for ocean conservation and the blue economy, emphasized the importance of equitable implementation. “For African and other developing countries, the way this agreement is implemented will test whether ‘common heritage of humankind’ can move from slogan to reality,” he stated. Seychelles was among the first African nations to ratify the BBNJ agreement and has championed the establishment of high seas marine protected areas, such as the Saya de Malha Bank.
A central point of contention is the ongoing debate surrounding deep-sea mining. While proponents argue that it could provide essential minerals for the energy transition, scientific assessments warn of potentially irreversible damage to deep-sea ecosystems. Concerns are particularly acute in Africa’s Indian Ocean, where recent calls for a moratorium on deep-sea mining have gained momentum. Michel, alongside philanthropist Dona Bertarelli, recently urged governments to prioritize precaution and long-term stewardship over short-term profits, echoing the approach Seychelles adopted with its Marine Spatial Plan (SMSP) and innovative blue bonds.
Seychelles, under Michel’s presidency (2004-2016), pioneered large-scale marine protection, committing to safeguard 30% of its 1.35 million km² Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) by 2020 – a decade ahead of current global 30×30 targets. The country also launched the world’s first sovereign blue bond in 2018, a $15 million issuance that reduced borrowing costs and funded fisheries governance and marine protection projects.
Kenya’s framing of the 2026 conference around jobs, equity, and healthy oceans aligns with the priorities of many nations in the Global South. Conference organizers have indicated a focus on three key outcomes: equitable implementation of the BBNJ Agreement, including funding for capacity-building and benefit-sharing. a precautionary pause on deep-sea mining until its environmental impacts are fully understood; and commitments to improve the livelihoods of coastal communities through sustainable fisheries, mangrove restoration, and support for youth and women’s leadership.
The Our Ocean Conference will conclude on June 18, 2026, with a closing plenary session. The next steps following the conference, including the specific commitments made by participating nations and the mechanisms for tracking their implementation, remain to be seen.