Our Ocean Conference

Our Ocean Conference
Formation2014
Founded at
TypeIntergovernmental organization

The Our Ocean Conference (OOC) is an annual international conference and organization established in 2014 by then-United States Secretary of State John Kerry. The conference aims to bring together business, world leaders, governments, scientists, and non-governmental organizations to protect the world's oceans.

Background

Headed by the United States Secretary of State John Kerry and the Barack Obama administration, the first Our Ocean Conference was held in Washington, D.C. in 2014. Since then, annual conferences have been held in Canada, South Korea, and Chile. The conference has developed into a major global summit to protect marine environments and find funding for developed solutions. Main objectives of the annual meetings include combatting marine pollution, expanding marine protected areas, combatting climate change, building sustainable fisheries and a blue economy, and maritime security. OOC claims to have secured $169 billion in pledged monetary commitments and 2,900 overall global commitments. Its secretariat is hosted by the Ocean Program at the World Resources Institute. In September 2026, Canadian federal fisheries minister Joanne Thompson appointed Diana Fox Carney, the spouse of Prime Minister Mark Carney, as Canada's first ocean envoy ahead of the 12th Our Ocean Conference, which will be held in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Fox Carney will also chair the event; the position is unpaid.

Conferences

No. Date Host country Host city
1st 16–17 June 2014 United States Washington, D.C.
2nd 5–6 October 2015 Chile Valparaiso
3rd 15–16 September 2016 United States Washington, D.C.
4th 5–6 October 2017 Malta Valletta
5th 29–30 October 2018 Indonesia Bali
6th 23–24 October 2019 Norway Oslo
7th 13–14 April 2022 Palau Koror
8th 2–3 March 2023 Panama Panama City
9th 16–17 April 2024 Greece Athens
10th 28–30 April 2025 South Korea Busan
11th 16–18 June 2026 Kenya Mombasa
12th 9–11 May 2027 Canada Halifax
13th Jamaica Montego Bay

References

  1. ↑ "RELEASE: Our Ocean Conference Announces Canada and Jamaica as Next Hosts". WRI. World Resources Institute. 19 June 2026. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  2. ↑ Malavika Vyawahare (26 June 2026). "Our Ocean Conference in Kenya ends with $6.4 billion in pledges, review of past promises". Mongabay. Mongabay. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  3. ↑ "Canada to host world's premier oceans conference in 2027". The Globe and Mail. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  4. ↑ "Our Ocean Conference 11". For the Ocean. For the Ocean. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  5. ↑ Iris G. Petten (21 October 2026). "Oceans of opportunity in Canada's blue economy: Senator Petten". SenCAplus. Senate of Canada. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  6. ↑ Bruna Campos; Nathalie Eddy; Alexandra Colón-Amil (12 June 2026). "The 11th Our Ocean Conference Must Confront Fossil Fuels". CIEL. Center for International Environmental Law. Retrieved 25 October 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ↑ "Promoting American Business and Technology Leadership at Our Ocean Conference". U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of State. 2026-06. Retrieved 2026-10-25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ↑ Steve Weinman (23 June 2026). "Ranking reefs: Who pledged what at Our Ocean Conference?". Divernet. Divernet. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  9. ↑ "Our Ocean Conference". CBC News. CBC. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  10. ↑ "Carney announces ocean protection measures in B.C." CBC News. CBC News. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  11. ↑ "About the Our Ocean Conference". Our Ocean Conference. Our Ocean Conference. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  12. ↑ "Diana Fox Carney named Canada's Ocean Envoy and chair of Our Ocean Conference". CBC News. CBC News. 16 September 2026. Retrieved 16 September 2026.
  13. ↑ "Canada to host the 12th Our Ocean Conference in spring 2027". Government of Canada. Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 8 June 2026. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  14. ↑ "Our Ocean Conferences". Our Ocean Conference. Our Ocean Conference. Retrieved 25 October 2026.