LONDON (April 16, 2025) - The Republic of Kenya has been confirmed as the host of the 11th Our Ocean Conference (OOC) in 2026.

Launched in 2014 by the U.S. Department of State and former Secretary of State, John Kerry, the Our Ocean Conference is an annual event that brings together governments, the private sector, NGOs and the academic community to drive urgent ambition and action for the ocean. World Resources Institute is the Secretariat of the conference.

The conference supports efforts across finance, policy, capacity building, research, and more, focusing on six key areas: marine protected areas, sustainable blue economy, climate change, maritime security, sustainable fisheries and marine pollution.

To date, the conference has generated over 2,600 commitments worth more than $140 billion - a testament to its vital role in global ocean protection and sustainable management. The 2026 edition will mark the first time the conference is held on the African continent, spotlighting the region's ocean leadership and priorities.

Following is a statement from Tom Pickerell, Global Director, Ocean Program, World Resources Institute:

"Kenya has long been an advocate and leader on ocean issues - as an active member of the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (Ocean Panel), the host of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and a pioneer in ambitious policies to tackle plastic pollution and foster a sustainable ocean economy.

"The Our Ocean Conference is a critical platform for mobilizing finance and catalyzing vital ocean action. In its first ten years, it has been an effective mechanism to further progress against multilateral agreements and encourage new announcements of marine protected areas. Our research shows that each successive conference has raised ocean ambitions both globally and regionally.

"As the first Our Ocean Conference to be held in Africa, Kenya will have the opportunity to draw global attention to the region's priorities and challenges - ranging from ocean-climate resilience and sustainable fishing to maritime security, marine conservation, pollution and the sustainable ocean economy.

"As the Our Ocean Conference Secretariat, we look forward to working with next year's host as they define priority action areas, shape the agenda, and build on the expected momentum of the 10^th conference in Busan later this April, to mobilize a new wave of commitments into the conference's second decade."

• Darla Bijou van Hoorn

  Media Relations Manager