The 11th Our Ocean Conference will be held in Mombasa, Kenya, from June 16 to 18, 2026.
As the first Our Ocean Conference held on African soil, the 11th Our Ocean Conference (OOC11) placed a global spotlight on ocean action and leadership across the continent and highlighted the unique coastal communities, biodiversity, and ecosystems of Kenya and East Africa.
OOC11 focused on the essential role that the ocean plays in shaping culture, communities, and livelihoods. Under Kenya’s leadership, the conference brought together governments, communities, civil society, academia, and businesses to move the global ocean agenda from dialogue to delivery, placing jobs, equity, and healthy oceans at the center of international cooperation.
The busy agenda featured high-level thematic plenaries, side events, exhibitions, community and cultural events, a Youth Leadership Summit, an Executive Business and Investment Forum and a Pre-Conference Research Symposium.
About one-third of new commitments focused on actions to support Africa’s ocean priorities and the growth of the blue economy, including sustainable fisheries development, advancing blue carbon and nature-based solutions, marine conservation and efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which is estimated to cost African economies between $11 billion and $13 billion annually.
As host, Kenya announced 42 commitments worth an estimated $1 billion, including actions to expand marine protected areas, strengthen fisheries monitoring, mobilize climate finance and advance the sustainable blue economy.
Major announcements from OOC11 included:
- Kenya’s $200 million commitment to install electronic monitoring to all industrial fishing vessels in its waters.
- French Polynesia’s commitment to strengthen protections within the Tainui Atea, the world’s largest marine protected area, through more than 27,000 square kilometers of new regulated fishing areas, coastal protection zones and seamount protections.
- Canada’s $682 million commitment to the Small Crafts Harbours Program to support coastal and rural communities, fishing activity and local economies.
- The World Bank Group’s commitment to invest $1 billion over the next two years to support developing countries as they build sustainable and resilient blue economies.
