Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa Mobilises $6.4Bn for Marine Climate Action
MOMBASA June 18, 2026 — A three day 11th Our Ocean Conference (OOC11) concluded here in Kenya on Thursday with governments, businesses and civil society organisations announcing 320 commitments worth $6.4 billion aimed at advancing global ocean conservation and sustainable development efforts.
The conference, which held from 16-18, 2026, brought together representatives from 104 governments, private sector entities and non-governmental organisations, who pledged support for initiatives spanning marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries, maritime security, marine pollution reduction, the ocean-climate nexus and the development of blue economies.
As the first edition of the Our Ocean Conference to be hosted on the African continent, OOC11 attracted more than 5,000 participants and highlighted African-led financing and implementation as key priorities in the global ocean agenda.Host country Kenya announced approximately 42 commitments valued at an estimated $1 billion.
Among the major initiatives was a $200 million investment programme to deploy electronic monitoring systems across all industrial fishing vessels operating in Kenyan waters, aimed at strengthening fisheries management and combating illegal fishing.
The World Bank Group also unveiled plans to invest $1 billion over the next two years to assist developing countries in building sustainable blue economies and improving the management of marine resources.
Speaking at the closing session, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Mining and Blue Economy, Hassan Ali Joho, underscored the importance of translating commitments into tangible results.“This conference is about turning words into commitments, commitments into action, and action into a legacy we can be proud of,” he said.
The conference concluded with a formal handover ceremony, confirming Canada as the host of the next Our Ocean Conference in 2027, while Jamaica will host the gathering in 2029.
Organisers thanked the Government of Kenya and participating partners, organisations and stakeholders for contributing to what they described as a landmark conference focused on accelerating action for ocean conservation and sustainable marine development.
