Our Ocean Conference 2026 (OOC11) brings together governments, Indigenous Peoples, coastal communities, youth, scientists, civil society and the private sector to advance commitments for ocean protection and sustainable ocean governance.
Hosted by the Government of Kenya in Mombasa from 16–18 June 2026, this marks the first time the conference will take place on African soil.
With more than 3 billion people depending on the ocean for food and livelihoods, accelerating climate impacts, and persistent inequities in fisheries, conservation and climate finance, OOC11 is a critical moment to strengthen coordination, elevate community leadership and influence decision-making processes at a global level.
Gaps in Global Ocean Policy
Global ocean governance still does not adequately reflect the rights, knowledge and priorities of ocean-dependent communities, despite the urgency created by accelerating climate impacts, biodiversity loss and deepening inequalities in ocean use and access.
By participating in OOC11, Rise Up will work to ensure that participation is not symbolic but transformative—strengthening collective influence, improving access to decision-making spaces and helping ensure that global ocean commitments translate into meaningful outcomes for diverse coastal voices and ocean-dependent communities.
Navigating the Our Ocean Conference: A Civil Society & Community Session
Ahead of OOC11, RISE UP and partners hosted an online preparatory session designed to support civil society organisations, community leaders and movement partners to better understand the conference process, key themes and opportunities for engagement.
The session provided an overview of the Our Ocean Conference, including major focus areas, governance discussions and expected outcomes, while also creating space for dialogue, connection and shared learning across participants. The webinar helps to strengthen collective understanding, support alignment across stakeholders and ensure that community voices are informed and better positioned to engage with or respond to conference outcomes.
Aligning with the Conference Areas of Action
Our Ocean Conference is structured around six globally recognized Areas of Action that guide dialogue, commitments and partnerships across each edition of the conference, ensuring continuity and coherence in global ocean governance.
At OOC11, RISE UP will align its engagement with three of these areas as a strategic opportunity to elevate and integrate community perspectives, while strengthening accountability, justice and inclusion within global ocean decision-making spaces.
Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries
Supporting sustainable fisheries governance through community-led approaches that protect marine ecosystems while advancing the rights, livelihoods and food security of small-scale fishing communities.
Ocean–Climate Justice & Resilience
Championing equitable and community-led ocean–climate action through local adaptation, blue carbon ecosystems and just transition approaches that support healthy oceans and resilient coastal communities.
Communities and Marine Conservation
Strengthening community participation, transparency and accountability in marine conservation and ocean governance processes, including BBNJ implementation, Areas Based Management Tools and opposition to Deep-Sea Mining.
RISE UP Working Session
‘No more empty pledges’: Ocean communities demand power shift and accountability at Our Ocean Conference
On the opening day of the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, RISE UP convened around 30 civil society organisations, Indigenous Peoples’ organisations, small-scale fishers’ organisations and youth networks to issue a collective statement, calling for a shift from pledges to practice.
Their message is clear: without structural changes in how decisions are made and implemented, ocean commitments will continue to fall short of the communities they are meant to serve. Ocean governance must move beyond consultation towards co-decision-making, accountability and community leadership.
The statement draws from the lived experiences of people most connected to the ocean across continents. Despite their diverse backgrounds, they have united around a shared advocacy message for decision-makers gathered in Mombasa.
The statement calls for:
🔹Ocean governance must be grounded in genuine community engagement, enforceable accountability mechanisms, and accessible, community-responsive financing.
🎣Small-scale fishers and fishworkers must be recognised as key actors in sustainable ocean governance, with secure rights, inclusive decision-making processes and community-led co-management systems.
🌍 Climate solutions must be driven by communities, grounded in local, traditional and Indigenous knowledge, backed by direct financing, and measured through accountable, community-defined indicators.
🌱 Conservation efforts must recognise communities as equal partners, support successful community-led models, and ensure shared decision-making, accountability and ecological stewardship.
