This year’s theme - Our Ocean, Our Heritage, Our Future - celebrates the living connection between people and the ocean. It reflects the heritage, cultures, and coastal communities shaped by the sea, and it calls for a shared commitment to secure a resilient, just, and thriving ocean for generations to come.
From ancient trading routes to modern innovation, the ocean is part of who we are. In 2026, Kenya invites the world to honor that heritage and work together for a healthier, more resilient ocean.
In June 2026, Kenya will host the 11th Our Ocean Conference, OOC11, on the vibrant Swahili coast, marking the first time the conference is held on African soil. From Mombasa to Kilifi, this landmark moment will shine a global spotlight on Africa’s ocean leadership and the unique coastal communities, ecosystems, and innovations that define the Western Indian Ocean.
The ocean is our planet’s life support system, home to 80% of all life on Earth, a provider of food and livelihoods for billions, and a stabilizing force for the global climate. Yet it faces escalating threats from warming seas, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU), pollution, and biodiversity loss.
OOC11 will bring together leaders from government, science, civil society, youth, and the private sector to accelerate ocean action and turn collective ambition into meaningful progress, with Kenya leading the way as host of the 2026 conference.
The Our Ocean Conference advances solutions across six core action areas that are essential for ocean health and prosperity. These areas guide commitments and partnerships each year.
MARINE PROTECTED AREAS
SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES
MARINE
POLLUTION
SUSTAINABLE BLUE ECONOMY
CLIMATE
CHANGE
MARITIME
SECURITY
The Our Ocean Conference is built around measurable action and accountability. Each year, governments, organizations, and businesses announce voluntary commitments that protect and restore the ocean.
Since 2014, participating governments and organizations have recorded 3,270commitments worth US$176.7 billion worldwide, with OOC11 introducing a strengthened architecture for tracking delivery.
The ocean sustains life, livelihoods, and cultures across the world, and its importance is deeply felt in the communities and ecosystems of Africa’s coastlines and the Western Indian Ocean.
Kenya welcomes the world to the Swahili Coast, a region rich in cultural heritage, marine biodiversity, and ocean innovation. Mombasa offers an inspiring setting for global collaboration and action, where historic port cities, vibrant communities, and marine ecosystems all meet at the water’s edge.
