Our Ocean Conference (OOC11)

The Our Ocean Conference focuses on addressing the key ocean issues of our time, including climate change, biodiversity loss, food security and pollution. The annual conference convenes governments, NGOs, the private sector and the academic community to identify action-based solutions and make tangible commitments.

The 2026 marked the 11th Our Ocean Conference, which was held in Kenya’s Mombasa and Kilifi Counties on the vibrant Swahili Coast. As the first Our Ocean Conference held on African soil, the conference placed a global spotlight on ocean action and leadership across Africa and highlighted the unique coastal communities, biodiversity, and ecosystems of Kenya and East Africa.

Guided by the theme “Our Ocean, Our Heritage, Our Future” the conference focused on the essential role that the ocean plays in shaping culture, communities, and livelihoods. Reflecting Kenya’s role as a regional hub for ocean research, technological innovation and community-led ocean management, the 2026 conference sought to:

• engage the private sector and deliver investment in the sustainable blue economy
• empower and elevate young ocean leaders
• catalyze ocean finance
• collaboratively combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU)
• advance marine conservation and restoration efforts that deliver on both climate and 30×30 goals.

The Aquatic Blue Food Coalition at OOC 11

At OOC11, the High-Level African Blue Food Leadership Roundtable convened more than 50 ministers, senior government officials, and technical experts from across Africa to advance blue foods as a solution for food security, nutrition, livelihoods, and climate resilience. The Aquatic Blue Food Coalition (ABFC) Secretariat played a central role in convening partners and shaping discussions that resulted in several concrete outcomes, including the launch of the African Blue Food Partnership and the establishment of the African Blue Food Champions Network. The Network secured endorsements from Kenya, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Madagascar, and Namibia, while Mauritius, Cabo Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, Gabon and Benin expressed enthusiasm at being involved in the development of the network, demonstrating growing continental momentum behind blue foods. AUDA-NEPAD will serve as a key partner in the development and launch of the Network, helping to cultivate political leadership and accelerate the integration of blue foods into national and regional policy agendas across Africa. For more information on the event and the African Blue Food Champions Network, please see this press release from AUDA-NEPAD.

The Kenyan government, led by Hon. Hassan Joho, Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs of Kenya, developed the video below to memorialize the event.

Following the workshop, in partnership with Kumbatia Seafood, Wholechain and Better Food Future, we hosted a dinner event, From Ocean to Plate A Culinary Innovation Showcase for Sustainable Oceans, highlighting the importance of linking consumption patterns to ocean sustainability and showcasing how innovation in blue foods can contribute to healthy people and healthy oceans. The dinner featured chef Fatuma Mang’ena, co-founder of Seaweed Café, utilizing locally-sourced seaweed, octopus and mahi mahi. Dinner guests heard from Fatuma, along with Kenyan small-scale fishers Rashid and Abdul, who shared their experiences working across the blue food value chain and highlighted their efforts to advance sustainable fisheries and aquaculture and strengthen local livelihoods.

Seafood at the event was sourced by Kumbatia Seafood, a Kenyan seafood company that connects artisanal fishers to domestic and international markets. Kumbatia was able to ensure that every piece of seafood is traceable by utilizing Wholechain, a traceability platform. As a result, at the dinner, diners were able to trace their meal back its source using this QR code.