Check out what’s been happening in Mombasa.
That’s a wrap on Our Ocean Conference 2026 in Mombasa!
We came into Our Ocean Mombasa looking to bridge the gap between global policy and real, regional action, and the momentum did not disappoint. From packed rooms to critical strategy sessions with African and global government decision-makers, the focus for us this week was on building the High Seas protection, equity, and governance structures required to make this Treaty a success.
But the best part of any summit is the people who make it happen. We wrapped up an intense week by finally getting to kick back, raise a glass, and celebrate with some of our incredible members (pictured below!).
To our co-hosts, speakers, partners, and members: thank you for the brilliant energy you brought to Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa. Let’s keep pushing forward together.
You can check-out all the commitments made at the conference here.
17 June 2026: High Seas Protection at the front and center of Our Ocean
“The High Seas Treaty is a landmark Agreement that changes the face of ocean governance for the world. The challenge is now to change this promise to action in the water. How will we do that? 3 cornerstones are key to this: protection, equity and good governance, underpinned by strong partnerships and alliances”
High Seas Alliance Director, Rebecca Hubbard, intervened during Plenary at the Our Ocean Conference, stressing the importance of strong implementation of the BBNJ Agreement Treaty to achieve tangible protection on the water.
Secretary John Kerry, Founder of the Our Ocean Conference and former U.S. Secretary of State, also urged more countries to ratify and advance universal ratification to make the Treaty a success and effectively protect our ocean. In his intervention during the MPAs Plenary at Our Ocean Conference he said:
“We must bring the High Seas Treaty from promise to practice. The Agreement represents one of the most important advances in ocean governance in a generation. Now governments must ratify it, and about 90 have, so it is in effect. But everybody needs to join in implementing it”.
16 June 2026: Starting Our Ocean with a High Seas Alliance Side Event
Today was the first official day of Our Ocean Mombasa! We hosted a high-level side event focusing on how we bring the High Seas Treaty to Life. With the BBNJ Agreement in force, the time to move from words on paper to action on the water is right now.
Covering two-thirds of our global ocean, protecting the High Seas is absolutely critical to achieving the global 30×30 target. Today’s event shone a vital spotlight on African regional leadership, a continent with immense stakes in ocean health, where nearly 200 million people depend on a healthy ocean for food security, climate resilience, and coastal livelihoods.
Our first segment focused on the powerful political momentum and national commitments driving this movement forward. We heard inspiring updates from government representatives who are championing swift pathways toward ratification and implementation.
• Costas Kadis, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, EU, reaffirmed the EU’s total commitment to ensuring the success of the first BBNJ Conference of the Parties, maintaining momentum through the High Ambition Coalition, and highlighting support available through the EU Global Ocean Programme.
• Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Germany, shared the exciting announcement that Germany has approved ratification and their Minister will officially deposit the instrument during the UNGA High-Level Week this September.
• Radia Razack, Chief Director of Oceans and Coast at the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) of the Government of South Africa, emphasized that considerable work is already underway toward national implementation, highlighting the need for co-ownership with partners and a globally beneficial instrument.
• Gibrilla Kamara, from the Ministry of Environment of Sierra Leone, delivered a powerful call for a unified African voice, noting how High Seas health directly impacts coastal communities facing threats like overfishing and illegal fishing.
• These regional conservation efforts were strongly echoed by Momar Sow, Director of Community Marine Protected Areas of Senegal, who also highlighted the significance of the IMPAC6 conference that will be held in Senegal in 2027 as a key milestone on the pathway to 2030.
We then transitioned to our expert presentations, which focused on the critical ecological connectivity required to deliver on the 30×30 target. Hugues de Kerdrel, Director, Consortium William, presented on the Atlantic Marine Megafauna Corridor, while Tabea Zwimpfer, Africa Marine Coordinator, BirdLife International, showcased how Key Biodiversity Areas and Marine Flyways can accelerate ocean action. Jean Harris, Strategic Ocean Lead at WildTrust, wrapped up the segment by spotlighting the inspiring, African co-led Sub-Antarctic High Seas MPA initiative.
Thank you to all of our incredible co-organizers, governments including: The European Union, Germany, South Africa, Senegal, Cameroon and Sierra Leone; and organizations including: WildTrust, BirdLife International, Consortium William, and IUCN. Thanks to our speakers, and participants from across the world.
15 June 2026: Starting the Week with a Public Lecture and Networking Session
Today, we were thrilled to partner with the University of Nairobi Mombasa Campus to host an inspiring and timely Public Lecture and Networking Session: The BBNJ Treaty — A New Chapter in Ocean Governance.
Serving as an exciting preconference event ahead of the 11th Our Ocean Conference #OOCMombasa, the lecture brought together a vibrant mix of students, academics, local experts, and media. Now that the historic High Seas Treaty is officially international law, the room was aligned on one core mission: moving swiftly from Treaty negotiation to ambitious implementation.
A central theme of today’s dialogue was also Africa’s leadership and strategic priorities in this new era of ocean governance. The conversations focused on how to design Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) that center African priorities, how to ensure robust monitoring and enforcement against illegal fishing in the High Seas, and how to hold current decision-makers accountable.
We were especially inspired by the focus on the next generation, discussing how to break down technical barriers so youth leaders can meaningfully drive the 30×30 target forward.
The afternoon concluded with a call to action: a reminder to us all that a healthy ocean depends on the foundations we build today. We are deeply grateful to our co-hosts at the University of Nairobi, our brilliant moderator and speakers, and everyone who joined us to bridge the gap between science, policy, and regional action.
Check out some of the moments from the event:
