From global trade to coastal livelihoods, the stability of our ocean economy rests on maritime security. As leaders gather for the 11th Our Ocean Conference (OOC) in Kenya from June 16–18, the first time the conference is hosted on the African continent, this issue is rising to the top of the agenda.
Maritime security is critical to global trade flows and the safety of seafarers and coastal communities.The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) estimates that over 80% of the volume of international trade in goods is carried by sea, and the percentage is even higher for most developing countries. These vessels connect markets, sustain supply chains and underpin the global economy. But the routes they depend on, and the infrastructure that supports them, from ports to subsea cables, are increasingly under threat.
The scale and complexity of maritime crime is growing. Piracy and armed robbery are once again on the rise. According to the International Chamber of Commerce’s International Maritime Bureau (IBM), 137 incidents were recorded in 2025, up from 116 in 2024. Of these, 121 vessels were boarded, four hijacked, and two fired upon, alongside 10 attempted attacks. Even more concerning is the increasing use of weapons: guns were reported in 42 incidents in 2025, a sharp rise from 26 the previous year.
These are not isolated risks. Key maritime chokepoints such as the Singapore Straits, the Gulf of Guinea, and parts of East Africa are becoming hotspots for criminal activity. In parallel, the human cost is mounting. In 2024, the IMB recorded 126 seafarers taken hostage, up from 73 in 2023 and 41 in 2022, underscoring the dangers faced by the people who keep global trade moving.
But piracy is only one part of a broader and more interconnected threat landscape.
Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing has emerged as a major driver of maritime insecurity. A multi-billion-dollar enterprise, IUU fishing strips coastal nations, particularly in the developing world, of critical food resources and economic revenue. It also undermines sustainable fisheries management and accelerates biodiversity loss.
Crucially, IUU fishing rarely operates in isolation. It is often linked to a wider web of criminal activity, including forced labor, human trafficking, money laundering, and tax evasion. In this sense, it serves as both a symptom and a signal of deeper governance and enforcement gaps at sea.
The international community has taken steps to address this challenge. The Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA), the first legally binding instrument targeting IUU fishing, aims to prevent illicitly caught fish from entering global markets by denying offending vessels access to ports. While progress has been made, implementation remains uneven, particularly in regions where capacity and resources are limited.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the Western Indian Ocean. Maritime insecurity in this region is increasing, with direct implications for trade routes, regional stability, and the livelihoods of coastal communities. From illegal fishing to trafficking and piracy, the convergence of threats is placing growing pressure on already stretched national authorities.
This is where OOC11 comes in.
The conference provides a critical platform to move beyond fragmented responses and toward coordinated, scalable solutions. Addressing maritime insecurity will require more than isolated interventions. It demands integrated approaches that combine surveillance, enforcement, data sharing, and regional cooperation.
Innovative technologies, from satellite monitoring to AI-driven analytics, are opening new possibilities for ocean surveillance. But technology alone is not enough. Sustained financing, political will, improved governance, and partnerships across governments, industry, and international organizations will be essential to translate capability into impact.
OOC11 is expected to catalyze action in three key areas: strengthening monitoring and enforcement; enhancing information sharing across borders; and promoting coordinated regional responses to maritime crime.
For the Western Indian Ocean, this could mark a turning point – if commitments are backed by implementation.
The stakes are clear. Maritime security underpins not only economic prosperity, but also human rights, environmental protection, and geopolitical stability. Without secure seas, there can be no sustainable blue economy.
