African and Commonwealth nations on Tuesday called for the swift implementation of a landmark treaty designed to protect the high seas, warning that significant ocean conservation efforts remain largely symbolic. The call came during the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, Kenya, the first time the annual event has been hosted by an African nation. The conference addresses critical ocean issues, including climate change, biodiversity, and pollution.
Hundreds of delegates from Africa, the United States, the European Union, and climate-vulnerable island nations are attending the conference. Leaders aim to position Africa as a key player in global ocean governance. Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry highlighted the importance of the High Seas Treaty, which became effective in January after ratification by 60 countries. He described it as a historic turning point, establishing the first legal framework for protected areas in international waters.
However, Kerry cautioned that progress is too slow. "We have 10% of the ocean under protection this year," he stated. "But only 3% is highly or fully protected, and the rest of the protections are, unfortunately, just lines on a map." He noted that industrial fishing fleets continue to exploit ocean resources, with some vessels operating far from home and employing large nets that indiscriminately capture marine life. Kerry urged countries to ratify the treaty if they have not already and to move immediately to implementation, emphasizing that crucial decisions regarding the treaty's future will be made next year.
The treaty, formally known as the Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction, is intended to help countries achieve the global target of protecting 30% of the world's land and oceans by 2030.
Kenyan Cabinet Secretary of Maritime Affairs Hassan Joho stressed the need for governments to transition from pledges to concrete actions. "The purpose of this roundtable is not to restate ambition, but to convert such pledges into measurable results for our communities, our economies and our oceans," Joho said. He pointed out that since 2014, the One Ocean Conference has generated over 2,900 pledges valued at more than $169 billion, but the challenge lies in their effective translation into marine ecosystem management.
The Commonwealth, comprising 56 member states, collectively oversees 36% of the world's ocean jurisdiction and nearly half of its coral reefs, placing a significant responsibility on the bloc for marine resource protection. Africa is increasingly emerging as a leader in ocean conservation. Kerry commended African nations for championing transboundary marine protection, citing a commitment by eight Gulf of Guinea nations to sustainably manage all their waters by 2030. He described the region as one that "long described as a victim of ocean exploitation is now choosing to lead instead."
Kenya itself has implemented integrated coastal management plans, expanded marine protected areas, and intensified efforts against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. The nation's extensive coastline and exclusive economic zone are vital for fisheries, tourism, and other sectors supporting millions of livelihoods.
As negotiations continue in Mombasa, delegates acknowledge that the coming months will be critical in determining whether the new treaty becomes a transformative tool for ocean conservation or remains unfulfilled international promises.