By Timothy Nzai June,15,2026
Greenpeace Africa and ocean justice advocates transformed Pirates Beach in Mombasa into a platform for environmental activism on Sunday, using a large-scale sand art installation to call on African leaders to strengthen ocean protection ahead of the United Nations Ocean Conference (OC11).
The event brought together civil society organizations, environmental campaigners and community advocates, who gathered along the coastline to highlight the need for urgent action to safeguard marine ecosystems that support millions of livelihoods across the continent.
Visible from both the ground and the air, the artwork carried a simple message: “Protect Our Oceans, Protect Our Future.” The symbolic display marked the beginning of Greenpeace Africa’s advocacy campaign at the Ocean Conference, where the organization is pushing African governments to champion the creation of High Seas Marine Protected Areas under the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement.
Campaigners also raised concerns over Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, which they said continues to threaten marine biodiversity, food security and the livelihoods of coastal communities.
Greenpeace Africa Oceans Campaign Lead Dr. Aliou Ba said the BBNJ Agreement offers African countries a unique opportunity to strengthen protection of international waters and preserve ocean resources for future generations.
“African governments have a unique opportunity to champion stronger ocean protection measures through the BBNJ Agreement and the establishment of High Seas Marine Protected Areas. Protecting our oceans is not only an environmental necessity but also a social and economic imperative for millions of people who depend on marine resources,” said Dr. Ba.
He warned that illegal fishing continues to deprive African countries of critical resources while undermining local fishing communities.
Greenpeace Africa Plastics Campaign Lead Hellen Dena emphasized that tackling plastic pollution is equally essential in protecting ocean ecosystems.
“Ocean protection cannot be achieved without addressing plastic pollution. We need integrated ocean governance that tackles both pollution and industrial exploitation while safeguarding marine ecosystems for future generations,” she said.
The event concluded with an interactive media session where campaign leaders and stakeholders urged African governments to secure meaningful commitments during the UN Ocean Conference.
As delegates prepare to convene for OC11, organizers said the demonstration at Pirates Beach served as a reminder that communities across Africa are demanding urgent action to protect the oceans that sustain their economies, cultures and way of life.
