Victoria, Seychelles — After decades in which the high seas were too often treated as a distant frontier–vast, ownerless and beyond meaningful protection–the High Seas Treaty entered into force on 17 January 2026. It was a landmark achievement for international cooperation and a reminder that, even in an increasingly divided world, nations can still come…
Companies and governments are increasingly waking up to the fact that the future of warfare isn’t just in the skies, but also on the ocean floor. Nations and corporations alike are devoting attention as well as piles of cash to new technologies designed for underwater use, as concerns grow about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure…
On 16-18 June in Mombasa, the Our Ocean Conference met on African soil for the first time, and over 100 governments, businesses and civil society organisations announced 320 new commitments valued at $6.4 billion to advance ocean conservation, sustainable fisheries, climate resilience and the blue economy. I have sat in enough such rooms to know…
Last month, Mombasa made history as the first African city to host the Our Ocean Conference (OOC) – an international convening to protect and conserve the ocean, gathering well over a hundred countries. Yet the significance of the conference went far beyond where it was held. It demonstrated why Africa is increasingly becoming one of…
Mombasa, Kenya — The blue economy is a vital source of jobs, food security, and economic opportunity across Africa and the Western Indian Ocean region. Yet, by the admission of those driving its development, the region is still only beginning to tap into what its oceans, lakes, and rivers can truly offer. This was the…
Mombasa, Kenya — On a lawn overlooking the Indian Ocean, a group of women leaders from coastal Kenya sat together for a special conversation to share stories from their communities, discuss the challenges they face, and explore locally led solutions for protecting marine ecosystems while strengthening livelihoods. The discussion, titled “Women’s Voices Are Key to…
The first thing you notice is the size of the Dr Fridtjof Nansen. It towers over the quay as it is docked at the Port of Mombasa under the fluttering Kenyan flag. The Norwegian-owned ship also operates under the United Nations flag, reflecting its mission to support countries in advancing sustainable ocean management through scientific…
Mombasa, Kenya — As temperatures climb, scientists warn the seas are approaching a perilous tipping point. Warming oceans are changing marine ecosystems and elevating climate risks to communities across the globe, from dying coral reefs and loss of biodiversity to more severe floods and threats to food security. The oceans are warming faster, already producing…
Mombasa, Kenya — A significant challenge for the conservation sector is the 30×30 goal to protect 30% of the planet’s oceans by 2030. It heavily depends on the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ agreement), which is the first legally binding agreement to establish Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the open seas. Before the treaty, nearly half…
Mombasa — The world’s oceans absorb a third of its carbon, feed billions, and are dying faster than most governments are moving to save them. Now, the ocean it depends on is the subject of urgent global negotiation, and for the first time, that conversation is happening in Africa. The 11th Our Ocean Conference (OOC11)…
