MOMBASA, KENYA – Greenpeace Africa today unveiled a large-scale sand art installation at “Pirates” Beach, sending a clear and urgent message to African governments gathering for the United Nations Ocean Conference (June 16–18): protect Africa’s oceans and the millions of people who depend on them.

The installation, created by Greenpeace Africa staff, volunteers and local community members on the shoreline and visible from the air, captures the growing demand for ocean justice across the continent at a moment when governments face critical decisions on the future of ocean protection.

Speaking at the beach activation,Norwich Mandu, Greenpeace Africa volunteer, said:

“This artwork represents what coastal communities are feeling every day. Fish are becoming scarce, livelihoods are under pressure, and yet the solutions are within reach. We are here to remind our leaders that protecting the ocean means protecting people, especially local fishers who depend on these waters to survive.”

The artwork reads   “THE OCEAN CONNECTS US ALL “ as African waters face mounting threats from illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, plastic pollution, and climate change, all of which are undermining the livelihoods of coastal communities and the health of marine ecosystems.

Greenpeace Africa is using the opening of the Ocean Conference to call on African governments to take leadership in advancing the BBNJ Agreement (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction), a landmark global treaty that enables the creation of Marine Protected Areas on the high seas.

Dr. Aliou Ba, Oceans Campaign Lead at Greenpeace Africa, said:
“The BBNJ Agreement gives African governments a historic opportunity to protect the high seas and safeguard the future of our fisheries. At the same time, we must confront the ongoing crisis of IUU fishing, which is stripping African waters of life and robbing communities of food and income. Governments cannot afford to delay. The time to act is now.”

In addition to industrial fishing pressures, plastic pollution continues to choke Africa’s coastlines and marine ecosystems, further compounding the ocean crisis.

Hellen Dena, Plastics Campaign Lead at Greenpeace Africa, said:
“You cannot talk about protecting the ocean without addressing plastic pollution. From beaches to deep-sea ecosystems, plastic waste is everywhere. African governments must push for strong global and regional action that tackles pollution at its source while protecting marine biodiversity through frameworks like the BBNJ Agreement.”

The sand art action marks the beginning of Greenpeace Africa’s engagement at the Ocean Conference, where the organisation will be advocating for concrete political commitments from African governments.

Throughout the conference, Greenpeace Africa will be pushing for:

  • Strong political support from African governments for a High Seas Marine Protected Area in the Canary-Guinea Convergence Zone under the BBNJ Agreement
  • Accelerated ratification and implementation of the BBNJ Agreement
  • Decisive action to end IUU fishing and harmful industrial fishing practices in African waters
  • Integrated ocean protection approaches that address both biodiversity loss and pollution
  • Meaningful inclusion of coastal communities in ocean governance decisions

As world leaders convene in Mombasa, Greenpeace Africa says the message written in the sand today must be carried into every negotiation: Africa’s oceans must be protected, and the time to act is now.

ENDS

Contact:

Ferdinand Omondi, Communications Lead, East and Southern Africa, Greenpeace Africa, +254 722 505 233 / [email protected]

Greenpeace Africa Press Desk: [email protected] 

Notes to Editors:

  • Drone images and videos can be retrieved here
  • The United Nations Ocean Conference takes place in Mombasa, Kenya, from June 16–18, 2025.
  • The BBNJ Agreement is a legally binding international treaty adopted in 2023 to govern and protect biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (the high seas).
  • An estimated 600 million Africans depend on ocean resources for food security and livelihoods.
  • IUU fishing costs West Africa billions of dollars annually and is a major driver of fish stock depletion in the region.

About Greenpeace Africa:

Greenpeace Africa is an independent campaigning organisation working to expose environmental injustice and drive solutions that protect people, ecosystems, and the climate across the African continent.