The 2026 Our Ocean Conference, held in Mombasa, Kenya, marked a significant moment in global ocean governance — both as the first edition of the conference hosted in Africa and as a demonstration of growing ambition and financial commitment to ocean action. The NBSAP Accelerator Partnership was present at the conference, which brought together more than 5,000 delegates including heads of state, ministers, scientists, Indigenous leaders, youth representatives, and business executives to translate ocean policy ambitions into concrete commitments and investments.

Since its launch in 2014, the Our Ocean Conference has generated more than 3,000 commitments supporting marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries, marine pollution reduction, climate adaptation and mitigation, and the sustainable blue economy. This year’s edition added 320 new commitments valued at $6.4 billion, with sustainable blue economy initiatives attracting the largest share of financing at $2.86 billion, followed by sustainable fisheries at $1.75 billion and ocean-climate initiatives at $1.18 billion.

Hosting the conference for the first time on African soil reflected the continent’s growing leadership in global ocean governance. Home to 38 coastal and island states and more than 13 million square kilometres of exclusive economic zones, Africa has a significant stake in the future of ocean health. Kenya, as host nation, announced approximately 42 commitments worth an estimated $1 billion, including a $200 million investment to install electronic monitoring on all industrial fishing vessels in its waters, actions to expand marine protected areas, and measures to mobilise climate finance for ocean resilience. The World Bank Group also announced plans to invest $1 billion over two years to help developing countries build sustainable and resilient blue economies.

For countries advancing implementation of their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, the Mombasa outcomes offer important signals. The scale of commitments on marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries, and pollution reduction aligns directly with several Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Targets — including Target 03 on protecting 30% of land and ocean areas, Target 07 on reducing pollution, and Target 10 on sustainable management of marine and coastal ecosystems. The conference also highlighted the growing recognition that ocean health, food security, climate resilience, and biodiversity are deeply interconnected agendas that require integrated national planning rather than siloed approaches.

As countries move from NBSAP development into implementation, platforms such as the Our Ocean Conference provide both a source of finance signals and a space for aligning national biodiversity priorities with broader international commitments.