Ex-US Secretary of State Kerry urges urgent action to save oceans as high seas treaty takes effect

Former United States Secretary of State John Kerry has called on governments to step up efforts to protect the world’s oceans, warning that international commitments alone are insufficient to reverse the continued decline of marine ecosystems.

Speaking at the Oceans Conference in Mombasa, Kerry said countries must move quickly to implement the recently activated High Seas Treaty, a global agreement aimed at strengthening the protection of biodiversity in international waters.

The conference brought together government representatives, policymakers and conservation stakeholders to examine the growing pressures on oceans, including climate change, overfishing and broader environmental degradation.

Kerry said oceans are central to both human survival and global climate stability, arguing that stronger action is needed to protect marine resources for future generations.

He noted that Commonwealth nations collectively control a significant share of the world’s coastal waters, giving them a crucial role in shaping global conservation efforts.

However, Kerry cautioned that many designated marine protected areas still suffer from weak enforcement, limiting their effectiveness in conservation.

He welcomed the entry into force of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, also known as the High Seas Treaty, which came into effect in January 2026.

The treaty establishes a legal framework for creating marine protected areas in ocean regions beyond national jurisdiction.

Kerry also highlighted initiatives by several African and Pacific countries to improve marine resource management, saying they reflect a growing global commitment to sustainable ocean governance.

His remarks came as Kenyan officials urged stronger accountability in delivering commitments made at previous international ocean forums.

Opening a ministerial roundtable, Kenyan leaders noted that thousands of pledges worth billions of dollars have been made at global oceans conferences over the past decade, but stressed that turning those commitments into concrete action remains a major challenge.

They also pointed to global efforts to protect 30 per cent of the world’s oceans by 2030, calling for greater investment, technology transfer and international cooperation.

The conference also raised concerns over the persistent threat of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Hassan Ali Joho called for enhanced international collaboration to combat illegal fishing, which he said continues to undermine conservation efforts and harm the livelihoods of coastal communities.

Joho proposed stronger information sharing between countries, improved monitoring systems and coordinated action against vessels involved in illegal operations.

He said Kenya had increased the number of locally flagged fishing vessels over the past year and was seeking a higher tuna allocation through ongoing talks with the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission.

The Cabinet Secretary also outlined government investments in fisheries infrastructure, including the upgrading of fish landing sites and the development of facilities to support the country’s fishing industry.

Delegates are expected to continue discussions on marine biodiversity protection, sustainable fisheries management and strategies to strengthen the blue economy across Commonwealth nations.

The conference marks the first time the Commonwealth Oceans Conference has been hosted on the African continent, bringing renewed attention to the role of coastal and island nations in addressing the world’s growing ocean challenges.