Ocean Conservancy Experts Available for Interviews at Our Ocean Conference

WASHINGTON – Ocean Conservancy experts will be on the ground and available for interviews at the Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, Kenya, from Monday, June 16 to Thursday, June 18. The conference convenes global ocean leaders to advance action and discuss solutions to climate change, biodiversity loss, food security and pollution. At the events listed below, Ocean Conservancy will share announcements regarding its global offshore wind work and the ocean’s mesopelagic zone, or twilight zone, the band of ocean where sunlight starts to fade. Twilight zone creatures help regulate our climate by locking away 2 to 6 gigatons of carbon annually.

“Threats to the health of our ocean continue to mount from the surface to its depths,” said Ocean Conservancy’s Vice President of Conservation, Chris Dorsett, who will be leading the organization’s delegation in Mombasa. “Without urgent, coordinated leadership to protect the mesopelagic zone, we risk destroying an ecosystem that we know is critical to life on our blue planet. That is why we are uniting governments to launch the Mesopelagic Zone Conservation Challenge this year at Our Ocean.”

“The clean energy transition will be won offshore as much as on land,” said Ocean Conservancy’s Director of International Climate and Clean Energy, Shamini Selvaratnam. “We don’t have to choose between powering the clean energy transition and protecting the ocean. The Our Ocean Conference is a chance for countries to show that clean energy, healthy oceans, and prosperous coastal communities can advance together.”

WHO	Chris Dorsett, Vice President, Conservation Shamini Selvaratnam, Director, International Climate and Clean Energy Luis Estévez-Salmerón, Associate Director, International Government Relations
WHAT	Areas of expertise include: -Mesopelagic zone -Fisheries policy -Abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (“ghost gear”) -Biodiversity protection -Ocean climate policy and finance -Clean ocean energy
WHEN	June 16–18, 2026
WHERE TO FIND US	Full list of events below
CONTACT	Emily Prettyman, Senior Communications [email protected]

Official Side Events

From Twilight to Spotlight: Protecting the Mesopelagic Zone for Ocean Health, Food Security, Biodiversity, and Climate Stability

Organizer(s): Ocean Conservancy, Government of Panama, Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA), Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Marine Conservation Institute (MCI), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) 

Date: June 16

Time: 2:30 pm – 3:45 pm

Location: PrideInn Paradise Beach Resort & Spa Mombasa, Room: Boni

Event Description: The side event “From Twilight to Spotlight” will launch the Mesopelagic Zone Conservation Challenge at the 2026 Our Ocean Conference, bringing together government leaders and civil society organizations to address an emerging ocean conservation priority. The mesopelagic zone – the ocean layer 200 to 1,000 meters below the surface – contains only 20% of the ocean’s volume yet holds an estimated 90% of its fish biomass. The event responds to mounting pressures on this ecosystem, including expanding demand for aquaculture products and health supplements driving interest in exploiting mesopelagic species like lanternfish, as well as climate change impacts such as warming waters and deoxygenation. High-level representatives from champion governments will formally sign a Charter committing to conserving this important area, The Charter will include pledges to: apply a precautionary approach to activities that could impact the zone, advance scientific research to fill knowledge gaps, establish robust management frameworks for potential resource use, and advocate for international safeguards. The Davos-style program will feature interactive dialogue among ministers, scientists, and youth on accelerating coordinated action aligned with broader goals including 30×30, the BBNJ Agreement, sustainable fishery, global biodiversity and climate commitments.

Speaking: Chris Dorsett, Vice President, Conservation

Pathways for a fossil-free ocean: The move away from offshore fossil fuels to offshore wind energy as a sustainable solution

Organizers: Center for International Environmental Law, Global Offshore Wind Alliance, and Ocean Conservancy

Date: June 17

Time: 5:30 pm – 6:45 pm

Location: PrideInn Paradise Beach Resort & Spa Mombasa

Event Description: At the 11th Our Ocean Conference 2026, under the theme “Our Ocean, Our Heritage, Our Future,” this side event will present a solutions-oriented narrative on the ocean’s central role in the global energy transition. It will focus on moving from the urgent need fora fossil-free ocean to the opportunity of scaling responsible offshore wind. This session will offer a connected pathway for sustainable ocean-based renewable energy transition. From addressing the risks and legacy of offshore fossil fuels to unlocking the opportunities of sustainable ocean-based renewable energy. The session will examine why phasing out offshore fossil fuels is essential not only for climate mitigation but also for protecting marine ecosystems, safeguarding coastal livelihoods, and upholding human rights. Offshore wind offers African coastal and island states a scalable ocean-based clean energy solution that can support energy security and sovereignty, development, and long-term decarbonisation while aligning with broader ocean-climate goals. By bridging climate action, ocean protection, energy governance and communities, the event aims to translate ambition into actionable strategies, strengthen political momentum, and position ocean leadership at the heart of a fair, funded, and orderly global energy transition.

Speaking: Shamini Selvaratnam, Director, International Climate and Clean Energy

Scaling Ocean-Climate Action at COP31: From Dialogue to Delivery through Blue NDCs and Finance Reform

Organizers: Government of Belgium, Government of Brazil, Government of Fiji, Government of France, Ocean & Climate Platform, Ocean Conservancy, WWF-Brazil, World Resources Institute, UNFCCC Secretariat, and Ankara University

Date: June 18

Time: 8:30 am – 9:45 am

Location: PrideInn Paradise Beach Resort & Spa Mombasa

Event Description: The ocean–climate nexus has become central to the implementation of the Climate Convention and the Paris Agreement. Research shows that action across seven ocean sectors — from conservation to renewable energy to shipping — could provide over a third of the emissions cuts needed to reach global climate goals, while also supporting jobs, health and economic growth. Through the UNFCCC Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue, Parties and observers have advanced technical and policy discussions on strengthening ocean-based mitigation, adaptation, and resilience action across these sectors. Simultaneously, the Blue NDC Challenge has catalyzed national ambition by encouraging countries to integrate ocean-based climate solutions into updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). COP31, hosted by Türkiye later this year, arrives at a critical moment, with a focus on translating ambition into local action. The discussion will highlight how investing in and increasing access to climate finance for ocean-climate solutions can deliver on cross-sector investment, workforce development, and national implementation goals. The side event will offer a readout of the 2026 Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue discussions, preview the launch of the Blue NDC Implementation Taskforce, and showcase practical implementation examples from Türkiye, Australia, Fiji, Belgium, Brazil, and other partners. Special attention will be given to opportunities on the road to COP31 linked to the Standing Committee on Finance draft guidance, the 2026 SCF Forum, and the Pacific Pre-COP process. By bringing together governments, scientific institutions, civil society, and ocean-dependent communities, the event will create a strategic bridge between policy ambition, finance reform, and local action to accelerate delivery of ocean-climate solutions.

Towards UNOC-4: Strengthening Regional Action on Marine Plastic Pollution through the Regional Seas Programme in the Western Indian Ocean and East Asian Seas Regions

Organizers: Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (UNEP/COBSEA)

Date: June 17

Time: 5:30 pm – 6:45 pm 

Location: PrideInn Paradise Beach Resort & Spa Mombasa

Event Description: The side event will showcase how regional frameworks, research, technical expertise and multi-stakeholder partnerships can advance practical solutions across the source-to-sea continuum, from plastic waste prevention and city-level action to improved management of sea-based sources, including ALDFG. The side event aims to:

·  Highlight regional experiences from UNEP Regional Seas, including COBSEA and the Nairobi Convention;

· Demonstrate how regional action plans, such as RAP MALI, support implementation of global commitments at national and sub-national levels;

· Share practical approaches from research institutions and implementation partners, including on sea-based source management, ALDFG prevention and management, and city-level plastic reduction;

· Promote South-South exchange, peer learning and scalable partnerships that can inform regional action and contribute to a pipeline of solutions toward UNOC-4.

Speaking: Chris Dorsett, Vice President, Conservation

Roundtable: Taking Stock and Accelerating Delivery: Ocean Renewable Energy

Organizers: Ocean Conservancy

Date: June 15

Time: 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Location: PrideInn Paradise Beach Resort & Spa Mombasa

Event Description: At COP30, the ocean was centre stage, embodied by the Blue Package, a set of commitments and framework designed to accelerate and scale up ocean-climate solutions by 2028. The Blue Package is guided by the Ocean Breakthroughs, science-based targets for 2030, that span five key sectors – marine conservation, aquatic food, renewable energy, shipping and tourism – to deliver real progress. This roundtable is being gathered on the margins of Our Ocean to take stock of the progress made under the Ocean Renewable Energy Breakthrough. As momentum grows globally around offshore renewable energy and sustainable ocean economies, there is increasing recognition that implementation now requires stronger coordination across climate, ocean, finance, biodiversity, and energy systems. The roundtable will also launch a report on Africa’s ocean-based renewable energy resources could deliver substantial economic benefits, which highlights the transformative opportunity offshore renewable energy presents for Africa’s energy security, economic development, climate resilience, and sustainable ocean economies. Against a backdrop of increasing global attention to the implementation of the energy transition, the roundtable will focus on practical pathways to accelerate responsible offshore renewable energy deployment that are environmentally sound, financially accessible, and aligned with sustainable ocean planning.

Speaking: Shamini Selvaratnam, Director, International Climate and Clean Energy

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ABOUT OCEAN CONSERVANCY  

For more than 50 years, Ocean Conservancy has delivered effective, evidence-based solutions for the ocean and all who depend on it. Today, we continue to unite science, people and policy to protect our ocean from the greatest challenges it faces: climate change, plastic pollution and biodiversity loss. We are a 501(C)3 headquartered in Washington, D.C. that inspires a worldwide network of partners, advocates and supporters through our comprehensive and clear-eyed approach to ocean conservation. Together, we are securing a healthy ocean and a thriving planet, forever and for everyone. For more information, visit oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Bluesky or Instagram.