Overview
Under the theme “Our Ocean, Our Heritage, Our Future,” the 11th Our Ocean Conference (OOC11) convened global leaders on Kenya's Swahili coast—the first time the conference was held in Africa. Coastal 500's African delegation brought local government voices from Mozambique to the global stage, demonstrating how community-led leadership is advancing ocean conservation, sustainable fisheries, and resilient coastal livelihoods. Through member participation, peer learning, and high-level dialogue, the network highlighted the essential role of local leaders in turning global 30×30 commitments intoaction.
Key Engagements
Catalyzing Community-Led Ocean Action: A Learning Exchange for Local Leaders in the Western Indian Ocean.
On the day before OOC11, Rare and Coastal 500 convened more than 30 local government representatives, community leaders, and partners from across the Western Indian Ocean region for a peer-learning exchange focused on community-led ocean action. The gathering highlighted successful local approaches to ocean protection, sustainable fisheries, and resilient livelihoods, while providing space for participants to share challenges, lessons learned, and opportunities for collaboration. Grounded in practical experience, the exchange reinforced the value of local leadership in driving effective and lasting ocean conservation outcomes; including Ms. Jubeta Mamudo Namaneque sharing details about how the network, partnerships, and peer learning have strengthened local leadership and advanced conservation efforts in her community. The exchange generated opportunities for new partnerships and laid the groundwork for expanding the Coastal 500 network throughout East Africa.
From Understanding to Application: Capacity Development for Effective Implementation of Marine 30x30
A new report from Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) warns that 30x30 will not be successful unless there is investment in the adjacent systems. The report calls for a shift in how conservation is communicated — framing MPAs not as restrictions, but as a shared economic, cultural and environmental proposition tied directly to livelihoods, food security and long-term prosperity. At the report launch event, co-hosted by Rare, Mr. João Bento Zampula emphasized that conservation is everyone’s business; especially how investments platform communities to not just have a voice, but to take action, to improve marine conservation outcomes.
Coastal 500 members were also featured by Together for the Ocean, check out Mr. Zampula's interview here and Ms. Mamudo Namaneque interview here.
"This conference is about turning words into commitments, commitments into action, and action into a legacy we can be proud of.”
Key Takeaways
OOC11 reinforced what Coastal 500 has long demonstrated: achieving global ocean goals depends on empowering local leaders and coastal communities. Throughout the conference, governments, funders, and practitioners consistently emphasized that conservation must move beyond commitments to implementation, through stronger local governance, greater investment in community leadership, innovative financing, and recognition of approaches such as community-led fisheries management and OECMs.
The conference also marked an important milestone for our network as Coastal 500 officially surpassed 500 members. With several Kenyan coastal counties expressing interest in joining the network, new partnerships emerging across the Western Indian Ocean, and Coastal 500 members taking the stage throughout OOC11, the momentum is undeniable. The energy in Kenya emphasized that Coastal 500 is not only growing in size, but also in influence. We are helping ensure that the future of ocean conservation is locally led, collaborative, and built to last.
Photo Gallery
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related Events
Check out other related events.
Regional Summit: Asia Pacific & Africa
Bringing together members from Asia Pacific & Africa to exchange solutions, strengthen partnerships, and advance community-driven ocean action.
UNCBD COP 17
The seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), where governments, Indigenous Peoples, scientists, civil society, and other stakeholders come together to advance global action to protect nature. COP17 will focus on implementing the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, accelerating progress toward biodiversity targets, and strengthening international cooperation on conservation, sustainable use, and equitable benefit-sharing. The conference provides a key opportunity to showcase innovative partnerships and solutions that support healthy, resilient coastal and marine ecosystems, as we work towards 30x30.
