By Bunmi Yekini
As the United Nations marked World Oceans Day 2026 with the theme, “Reimagine: Beyond the world we know, a new relationship with our ocean,” environmental advocates in Africa are calling for a fundamental shift in how the continent protects and manages its marine resources.
The Pan African Vision for the Environment (PAVE), a Nigeria-based environmental organisation accredited by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), said the global theme highlights the urgent need to move away from decades of ocean exploitation and towards sustainable, community-driven stewardship of marine ecosystems.
According to the organisation, Africa’s coastal and marine environments continue to face growing threats from plastic pollution, marine litter, industrial waste and unregulated fishing activities, with severe consequences for biodiversity, livelihoods and local economies.
PAVE said the theme comes at a pivotal moment following the implementation of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, also known as the High Seas Treaty, which provides a framework for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in international waters.
While welcoming the treaty, the organisation stressed that global agreements must be matched by action at the local level to address environmental challenges facing coastal communities across Africa.
“The health of our oceans is inseparable from what happens on land,” PAVE said, pointing to urban plastic waste, industrial discharges and poor waste management systems as major contributors to marine degradation in sub-Saharan Africa.
The group noted that it has been working with communities through environmental education campaigns, waste management initiatives and advocacy for stronger policies, including a global treaty to tackle plastic pollution.
A key focus of the organisation’s work is improving ocean literacy among coastal populations. PAVE said many communities remain unaware of the connections between daily human activities and the long-term health of marine ecosystems, despite depending on the ocean for food security, livelihoods, climate regulation and cultural identity.
By promoting ocean education among fishers, policymakers and young people, the organisation hopes to strengthen public understanding of marine conservation and encourage more sustainable practices.
PAVE also called for greater African representation in global ocean governance discussions, particularly as countries work towards international conservation targets, including the goal of protecting 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030.
The organisation said safeguarding marine ecosystems should not be viewed as a concern limited to developed countries, but as an essential component of Africa’s environmental and economic future.
“As the world reimagines its relationship with the ocean, Africa must ensure that local communities are at the centre of conservation efforts,” the organisation said, adding that lasting solutions will require a combination of global cooperation, local accountability and environmental justice.