Together for the Ocean

Meet Jubeta Mamudo Namaneque, Director of Ilha de Moçambique’s district government - a small island community off Mozambique’s east coast in the Indian Ocean - and a member of the #Coastal500. Led by Rare, Coastal 500 is the world’s largest network of mayors and local government leaders working to build thriving coastal communities and restore ocean health. The network brings together leaders from around the globe to share knowledge, exchange best practices, and drive action for sustainable coastal futures. Jubeta joined Coastal 500 to help deliver meaningful ocean protection in her region. At the heart of the network is a simple principle: long-term marine conservation works best when coastal communities have the tools, resources, and authority to manage the ecosystems they depend on. Her leadership is already proving what that looks like in practice. Jubeta has helped overcome longstanding barriers to establish fisheries management systems and managed access areas with marine reserves in local waters. When questions arose from the national government around zoning and demarcation, she stepped in to move the process forward and keep momentum alive. 👉 Watch the story behind Jubeta’s community and their marine conservation work here: https://lnkd.in/eGKiWxAK Stories like this remind us that delivering 30x30 effectively and equitably depends on strong local leadership. The 2026 Our Ocean Conference is an opportunity to turn ambition into action, ensuring leadership #ForTheOcean is shaped by the people and communities whose lives are most connected to the sea.

Papua New Guinea has announced a new “no-take” marine protected area, a major milestone #ForTheOcean 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea's plans to establish the Western Manus National Marine Sanctuary will include a marine protected area spanning approximately 200,000 km². Prime Minister James Marape shared the commitment at the first-ever Melanesian Ocean Summit, bringing together leaders from Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu. At nearly the size of the United Kingdom, the proposed sanctuary would become the largest “no-take” marine protected area in Melanesia. A “no-take” designation means extractive activities such as industrial fishing, mining and drilling are prohibited, creating space for marine ecosystems to recover and thrive. The sanctuary will help safeguard coral reefs, deep-sea habitats, and important migratory routes for species including gray reef sharks, manta rays, dolphins, whales, turtles, and seabirds. Located within the Coral Triangle - one of the most biodiverse marine regions on Earth - these waters form a critical “marine highway” connecting shallow reefs with the deep ocean. Scientists have documented more than 700 reef fish species and over 300 species of hard corals in the region. This announcement marks an important step toward Papua New Guinea’s commitment to protect 30% of its ocean by 2030, and reinforces the continued global leadership Pacific nations are demonstrating on ocean protection. Find out more in Oceanographic Magazine: https://lnkd.in/diUUfNZB 

"We have the tools, now we have to use them. We can't protect 30% of the ocean by 2030 without protecting the high seas." In this powerful reflection, Alexandra Cousteau, Ocean Advocate and Senior Advisor to Oceana, takes us beyond the horizon to a part of the ocean few people ever see, but that all of us depend on. Despite their importance, the high seas remain almost entirely unprotected. Now, with the High Seas Treaty in force, there’s a real opportunity to change that. But the window is narrow and COP1 has been confirmed to take place in January 2027. The countries that step forward now will shape the rules, the ambition, and ultimately the impact of the agreement. Because protecting the high seas isn’t optional; it’s essential to securing the future of the ocean, our food systems, and our climate. #ForTheOcean

Young people play a critical role in elevating local ocean leadership around the world. Autone Mululuma is a passionate climate justice and ocean advocate committed to advancing climate awareness, conservation, and youth participation. Despite growing up in landlocked Zambia, ocean protection is deeply personal to him. In 2025, he led a year-long campaign as a High Seas Youth Ambassador with EarthEcho International and the High Seas Alliance, raising awareness about the importance of protecting ocean biodiversity, even for countries without coastlines. Through his advocacy, he engaged more than 1,000 people in conversations around the ratification of the High Seas Treaty. From government officials to local children, he helped communities understand why safeguarding areas beyond national jurisdiction matters to everyone. “I could not have imagined it - the ocean taking center stage in landlocked Zambia. But it did. And I hope this gives you hope that each one of us, through our actions, however big or small, can create change for our ocean, wherever we might be.” At the 2026 Our Ocean Conference, elevating grassroots voices is not optional, it is imperative. Meaningful change #ForTheOcean happens when local communities are recognized not only as participants in the conversation, but as leaders shaping its future.

“We cannot save the ocean. We must instead allow it to save us.” In a powerful new essay for Oceanographic Magazine's special edition issue, The Innerview, Together for the Ocean Ambassador and Samoan climate activist Brianna Fruean reflects on the deep relationship Indigenous communities have with the ocean - not as a resource to exploit, but as a living system that shapes culture, identity, livelihoods, and survival. Drawing on stories from Samoa and coastal communities around the world, Brianna explores how generations of knowledge, tradition, and stewardship have enabled people to live in balance with the sea for centuries. But she also writes about the growing threats she has witnessed in her lifetime facing these communities: a warming ocean, disappearing fish stocks, coral loss, sea-level rise, and the erosion of cultures tied to marine ecosystems. From the Haenyeo divers of Korea to Inuit communities in the Arctic, the essay highlights the expertise Indigenous Peoples and traditional communities hold and why their voices must be central to global ocean and climate policy. As governments work towards protecting at least 30% of the ocean by 2030, Brianna makes a compelling case for a different approach to ocean protection: one grounded in reciprocity, respect, and Indigenous leadership. 👉 Find out more about the lessons the world can learn from the communities that have listened to the ocean for generations: https://lnkd.in/eWjrBKYh

Just off Canada’s coast, scientists are uncovering life in the cold, dark waters of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Grand Banks. Marine scientist Isabelle Jubinville of Oceana Canada recently embarked on an expedition to the Southern Newfoundland Slope, searching for centuries old deep-sea corals - a mission described by some as “a treasure hunt.” Very little is known about these corals - they are completely distinct from their sunny tropical coral counterparts, growing on deep-sea continental shelves and underwater sea canyons or “submarine canyons”. In the sunless depths of the ocean, these fragile ecosystems grow slowly. They support diverse marine life and offer vital insights into ocean health. Scientists are continuing to piece together the picture. Around the world, 3,000 species of cold-water corals are now known, some of which have been discovered at the huge depths of 6,400 metres below the surface of the water. The more we know about these species, the more we can protect them. 🔗 Read more: https://lnkd.in/eXRRPRG6 #ForTheOcean 🌊 📸 © Oceana Canada/Evermaven (above water) 📸 © Oceana Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada/Pêches et Océans Canada (underwater)

Meet the local leaders driving action #ForTheOcean. Ahead of the Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa and Kilifi Counties, Kenya, we’re launching a new series spotlighting those on the frontline of ocean protection. Each week, we are going to be sharing stories from community advocates and people turning ambition into action on the ground. From students to fishers to mothers, ocean protection is already happening in communities around the world. Millions rely on a healthy ocean for food, livelihoods, and cultural identity, and those closest to it often hold the most practical, hard-earned knowledge of how to protect it. Yet these perspectives are too often missing from global decision-making. If 30x30 is to move beyond targets and into real outcomes, it must be shaped by the people living with its consequences every day. As we count down to OOC11, we’re amplifying the voices that should be defining the future of ocean protection. Keep an eye out for our first spotlight! Rare Blue Ventures EarthEcho International

Ghana is taking a bold step to secure its ocean and its future. In a powerful op-ed for Mongabay, Hon. Emelia Arthur, Ghana’s Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, outlines why ocean protection is not just an environmental priority, but a social and economic imperative. Last month, Ghana designated its first Marine Protected Area - the Greater Cape Three Points MPA. This area will safeguard vital ecosystems and support 21 coastal communities. 🇬🇭 In Ghana, 60% of the population relies on the ocean for food and income. The long-term impact of species decline along the Ghanaian coast is not simply a matter of biodiversity loss - it means empty plates. This MPA is a critical step towards the global goal of protecting at least 30% of the ocean by 2030. With the Our Ocean Conference heading to Kenya next month, Ghana’s leadership sends a clear message: ambitious, locally led ocean protection is both possible and essential. Read the full op-ed in Mongabay: https://lnkd.in/eX-39WZi

With just over a month until the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa and Kilifi Counties, Kenya, the focus must shift from ambition to delivery. 2026 has already been a landmark year #ForTheOcean, with the High Seas Treaty entering into force in January creating a legal pathway to protect vast areas of the ocean for future generations. But progress on paper is not enough. OOC11 is a critical opportunity to accelerate real-world action - scaling protection, mobilizing finance, and ensuring that the millions of people who depend on the ocean see tangible benefits. A healthy ocean underpins healthy communities, economies and futures. Now is the moment to build on momentum and close the gap between commitment and implementation. Find out more about Together for the Ocean’s focus at OOC11: https://lnkd.in/d54JxdNY

We don’t have a target problem on ocean protection. We have a visibility problem. 30x30 has become a global rallying point; countries are signing up, commitments are stacking up, and action is taking place across the world. But without reliable, comparable data, it is too difficult to answer the question: are these efforts adding up to real progress? Data is what turns momentum into direction. Without it, ocean protection can be overstated, progress cannot be verified, and critical gaps remain hidden. With it, we can see what’s working, what isn’t, and where action needs to accelerate. The Marine 30x30 Data Dashboard, launched by Together for the Ocean and powered by SkyTruth, Marine Conservation Institute, High Seas Alliance and Campaign for Nature, brings aggregated datasets into one place, creating a clearer, more objective view of global and regional progress toward 30x30 in the ocean. Access the dashboard and explore our partners’ tools to dive deeper into the data: https://lnkd.in/eVBB4CvB