The 11th Our Ocean Conference, held from 16 to 18 June 2026 in Mombasa, Kenya, has concluded with a strong call for accelerated implementation, greater transparency, and deeper global cooperation to protect the ocean and the communities that depend on it.

 

Hosted for the first time on the African continent, OOC11 brought together more than 5,000 participants from governments, businesses, civil society organisations, regional institutions, development partners, academia, philanthropy and coastal communities. Under the theme “Our Ocean, Our Heritage, Our Future,” the conference placed African leadership, financing and implementation at the centre of the global ocean agenda.

 

By the close of the conference, 104 governments, businesses and civil society organisations had announced 320 new commitments, valued at approximately US$6.4 billion, across key areas including marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries, the ocean-climate nexus, maritime security, marine pollution and the blue economy.

 

Kenya, as host country, announced approximately 42 commitments worth an estimated US$1 billion. These included a major US$200 million investment to install electronic monitoring systems across all industrial fishing vessels operating in Kenyan waters, reinforcing the importance of technology, transparency and accountability in fisheries governance.

 

The World Bank Group also announced plans to invest US$1 billion over two years to support developing countries in building sustainable blue economies, further strengthening global support for ocean-based economic development that benefits people, climate and nature.

 

Mombasa Declaration Launched to Advance Fisheries Transparency

 

One of the key outcomes of OOC11 was the launch and signing of the Mombasa Declaration, a commitment to advance global fisheries transparency and strengthen collective efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

 

Sixteen countries signed the Declaration in Mombasa, forming a diverse coalition that spans Africa, Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Pacific. The signatory countries are Belgium, Cameroon, Chile, the Republic of the Congo, the Dominican Republic, France on behalf of its overseas territories, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Somalia and South Korea.

 
Now adopted, the Mombasa Declaration will move into implementation, with signatory countries expected to begin putting its commitments into action. The Declaration also remains a live call to action and will remain open for endorsement by other governments through the 2027 Our Ocean Conference.

 

Hon. Emelia Arthur, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture of Ghana, welcomed Ghana’s role as one of the first signatories, stating:

 

“I’m happy that Ghana is among the first countries to sign the Mombasa Declaration, because it provides a platform for all of us, the different governments, to come together and declare on an international platform that we are working together, fighting together for transparency in the fisheries sector.”

 

FCWC Highlights Regional Leadership Against IUU Fishing

 
For the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea, OOC11 provided an important platform to highlight African-led regional cooperation in the fight against illegal fishing and fisheries-related crimes.

 
In collaboration with the Southern African Development Community Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Coordination Centre, FCWC co-organised the side event “Securing our Ocean and Fisheries: Regional Leadership Uniting for a Transparent and Sustainable Blue African Future.”

 
The side event demonstrated how regional monitoring, control and surveillance mechanisms are strengthening transparency, compliance, information sharing, joint monitoring and enforcement. It also highlighted how the FCWC Regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Centre, based in Tema, Ghana, and the SADC MCS Coordination Centre, based in Maputo, Mozambique, are working both independently and together to deny illegal operators access to African fisheries resources and services.

 
The event showcased practical examples of cooperation, including cases such as the FV PREMIER and FV NOVA ZEELANDIA, which demonstrated the value of timely intelligence sharing, coordinated inspection, regional alert systems and cross-border collaboration. These cases showed how illegal fishing operators exploit gaps between jurisdictions, and how regional centres can close those gaps through structured cooperation.

 
Discussions also focused on the development of regional records and registers of fishing vessels as practical tools to improve transparency, strengthen national licensing systems, reduce regulatory evasion and support better vessel risk assessment. These tools are central to building a stronger collective African response to illegal fishing.

 
 
Towards African Vigilance

 
A major message emerging from the FCWC and SADC-led discussions was the need for a more connected, pan-African approach to fisheries monitoring, control and surveillance.

 
The concept of “African Vigilance” was presented as a forward-looking vision for a pan-African network linking fisheries MCS centres and regional mechanisms. Such a network would support systematic information sharing on fishing vessels, operators and activities, helping African countries create a stronger and more coordinated barrier against illegal fishing.

 
This approach reflects the growing recognition that no single country can combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing alone. Africa’s marine resources are among the richest and most productive in the world, but they are also highly vulnerable to illegal exploitation. Regional cooperation, shared intelligence, transparency and collective enforcement are therefore essential to protecting fisheries, food security, livelihoods and ocean ecosystems.

 
Looking Ahead

 
The conference closed with a formal handover, confirming Canada as the host of the next Our Ocean Conference in 2027, followed by Jamaica in 2029.

 
For FCWC, the outcomes of OOC11 reinforce the importance of regional leadership, transparency and practical implementation in the fight against illegal fishing. The commitments announced in Mombasa, together with the adoption of the Mombasa Declaration, provide renewed momentum for African countries and partners to strengthen fisheries governance and build a more sustainable, secure and transparent blue future.

 
FCWC extends its appreciation to the Government of Kenya, the organisers of OOC11, partner institutions, participating governments, civil society organisations, development partners and all stakeholders who contributed to the success of the first Our Ocean Conference hosted in Africa.

 
The OOC11 closed with the clear message from Mombasa: Ocean action must move from commitment to implementation, and Africa has a central role to play in shaping a transparent, sustainable and resilient ocean future.

 
Mombasa, Kenya

 
Tina Nkansah Akuamoah, Communication Officer