Our Ocean Conference Opens in Mombasa with Hollywood Star Kate Walsh in Attendance

The 11th Our Ocean Conference opened in Mombasa on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. It runs for three days until Thursday, June 18. This marks the first time the global event is hosted on the African continent.

Hollywood actress Kate Walsh, famous for Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, Emily in Paris and 13 Reasons Why, arrived as an ambassador for Oceana. Her presence has drawn extra attention to the gathering of heads of state, policymakers, scientists and environmental advocates.

Walsh met fishers and community leaders along the coast soon after arrival. Raised on California’s northern coast, she has long pushed for ocean conservation through campaigns on sustainable fisheries and sea turtle protection.

“It’s an honour to be in Kenya with Oceana for the Our Ocean Conference,” Walsh said. She noted the essential role of healthy oceans for food security and livelihoods after speaking directly with local communities.

She called on leaders to centre coastal communities in their decisions. Walsh is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech on Wednesday, June 17.

Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary Ali Hassan Joho and Principal Secretary Betsy Njagi hosted a reception for her on Monday. Joho praised her involvement as a boost to international cooperation on marine issues.

Coastal activists took advantage of the spotlight. Fishermen from the Bamburi Beach Management Unit demanded bans on 1.5-millimetre nets that catch juvenile fish. They warned that current practices threaten future generations.

Greenpeace Africa held a beach activation at Pirates Beach on Monday. Volunteers created large sand art calling for protection of at least 30 per cent of Africa’s oceans by 2030. The displays focused on illegal fishing, plastic pollution and climate change.

An estimated 600 million Africans rely on ocean resources. Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing costs the continent billions of dollars yearly. Activists urged faster ratification of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement.

Fish trader Khadija Hussein explained how declining stocks and pollution force fishermen into deeper waters. This raises costs and ripples through the entire coastal economy.

The conference has already generated significant pledges in past editions. Since 2014, previous gatherings produced over 2,900 commitments worth more than $169 billion for ocean action.

Principal Secretary Betsy Njagi described the Mombasa hosting as a milestone for ocean governance and the sustainable blue economy. Delegates will negotiate new actions on conservation, pollution reduction and climate resilience over the three days.