Protection and management of oceans received a significant boost on Thursday when 320 new commitments worth $6.4 billion (Sh829 billion) were announced to advance conservation, sustainable fisheries, climate resilience and the blue economy.
The pledge was made at the 2026 Our Ocean Conference, which concluded in Mombasa. The event was a historic milestone as the first Our Ocean Conference hosted on the African continent, highlighting Africa’s expanding role in global ocean governance and sustainable development.
The Our Ocean Conference has emerged as a leading forum for ocean action, turning policy aspirations into measurable commitments, investments and partnerships.
During the meeting, Kenya pledged $200 million (Sh25.8 billion) to fit all industrial fishing vessels in its waters with electronic monitoring systems. French Polynesia announced plans to strengthen protections in the Tainui Atea, the world’s largest marine protected area, by adding more than 27,000 square kilometres of new regulated fishing zones, coastal protection areas and seamount safeguards.
Canada committed $682 million (Sh88 billion) to the Small Crafts Harbours Program to support coastal and rural communities, fishing activities and local economies. The World Bank Group said it would invest $1 billion (Sh129.4 billion) over the next two years to help developing nations build sustainable and resilient blue economies.
Africa’s influence on the global ocean agenda has grown rapidly. With 38 coastal and island states and over 13 million square kilometres of exclusive economic zones, the continent has a substantial stake in the future of ocean health and the blue economy.
“This conference is about turning words into commitments, commitments into action, and action into a legacy we can be proud of,” said Hassan Ali Joho, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Mining and Blue Economy.
More than 5,000 participants attended the conference, including heads of state, ministers, scientists, Indigenous leaders, youth representatives, business executives and civil society organisations. The programme featured leadership plenaries, high‑level thematic panels, official side events, exhibitions, community and cultural events, an Executive Business and Investment Forum, a Youth Leadership Summit and a Research Symposium.
Youth participation was highlighted throughout. Parallel to the main event, the OOC11 Youth Leadership Summit gathered young innovators, scientists, entrepreneurs and activists from Kenya and beyond to showcase solutions for ocean conservation and sustainable development. One event, Youth and the Global Biodiversity Framework, displayed youth‑led restoration projects in Kenya that strengthen climate resilience, support local livelihoods and advance the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.
Organisers stressed the crucial role of young people in driving ocean solutions, noting that more than 70 percent of Africa’s population is under the age of 35.
Beyond generating new commitments, the Our Ocean Conference serves as a mechanism for tracking progress and accountability. The World Resources Institute (WRI), Secretariat of the Our Ocean Conference, analysed commitments in Africa since 2014. It found that about 78 percent of commitments are complete or in progress, and that the 2026 conference highlighted a growing shift toward African‑led solutions, financing and implementation.
“Africa is home to the world’s youngest and fastest‑growing population, with more than 400 million people between the ages of 15 and 35,” said Wanjira Mathai, Managing Director of Africa and Global Partnerships at WRI. “For many young Africans, the ocean is not simply an environmental issue. It is a source of jobs, food security and economic opportunity. The commitments announced in Mombasa demonstrate a growing recognition that investing in ocean health is investing in Africa’s future.”
Many commitments focused on priorities central to Africa’s development: sustainable fisheries, blue‑carbon initiatives, 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 the host nation, Kenya announced approximately 42 commitments worth an estimated $1 billion (Sh142 billion), covering actions to expand marine protected areas, strengthen fisheries monitoring, mobilise climate finance and advance a sustainable blue economy.
Kenya has emerged as a leading voice on ocean issues, being a founding member of the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, hosting the United Nations Environment Programme and advocating for ambitious action on marine pollution and ocean sustainability.