LONDON (June 19, 2026) – Canada and Jamaica have been confirmed as the next hosts of the Our Ocean Conference (OOC) in 2027 and 2029, respectively. World Resources Institute serves as the Secretariat for the conference.Canada will host the twelfth OOC in Halifax, Nova Scotia in Spring 2027. As host, Canada plans to highlight Indigenous and community leadership in ocean protection and the sustainable blue economy. Jamaica will then host the first OOC to be held in the Caribbean in 2029, in Montego Bay. No OOC is planned for 2028, as the UN Ocean Conference will be co-hosted by the Republic of Korea and Chile that year. Launched in 2014 by the U.S. Department of State under then-Secretary of State John Kerry, the Our Ocean Conference brings together governments, businesses and civil society organizations to make voluntary commitments on ocean conservation and sustainable ocean management. Since its launch, more than 3,220 commitments worth over $175 billion have been announced through the Our Ocean Conference platform. These commitments have supported the expansion of marine protected areas, efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and marine plastic pollution, growth of the sustainable blue economy, improvements in global maritime security, and actions to mitigate and adapt to ocean-climate impacts.Previous editions of the conference have been hosted by the United States, Chile, the European Union, Indonesia, Norway, Palau, Panama, Greece, the Republic of Korea and Kenya. ‘Year after year, the world shows up to the Our Ocean Conference with ambitious commitments, and the data shows the conference delivers, with more than 80 percent of commitments either completed or in progress,’ said Tom Pickerell, Global Director, Ocean Program, World Resources Institute. ‘As members of the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, Canada and Jamaica have championed action for a healthy ocean that supports jobs, food security and economic prosperity. We look forward to working with them to build momentum for ocean action in North America, the Caribbean and beyond.’ ‘As a nation bordered by three oceans and home to the longest coastline in the world, Canada’s relationship with oceans runs deep, and we have a duty to protect the oceans and the livelihoods of our coastal communities,’ said the Honourable Joanne Thompson, Canada’s Minister of Fisheries. ‘Canada looks forward to working with global partners as host of the Our Ocean Conference to make sure shared commitments lead to real results.’ ‘Jamaica is honored to host the Our Ocean Conference in 2029. As an island in the heart of the Caribbean, our economy, livelihoods and future are inseparable from the health of our marine environment,’ said Matthew Samuda, Jamaica’s Ministry of Water, Environment and Climate Change. ‘This gathering will allow us to showcase our leadership in ocean governance, strengthen global partnerships, and ensure that our blue economy continues to provide for generations to come.’About the Our Ocean Conference The Our Ocean Conference brings together governments, businesses and civil society organizations to make voluntary commitments that advance ocean conservation and sustainable ocean management. The conference attracts more than 3,000 participants from over 100 countries, including heads of state, ministers, scientists, Indigenous leaders, youth representatives and business executives. Since its launch in 2014, the conference has generated more than 3,000 commitments supporting marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries, action against marine pollution, climate adaptation and mitigation, the sustainable blue economy, maritime security, and implementation of international ocean agreements. About World Resources Institute (WRI) WRI works to improve people’s lives, protect and restore nature and stabilize the climate. As an independent research organization, we leverage our data, expertise and global reach to influence policy and catalyze change across systems like food, land and water; energy; and cities. Our 2,000+ staff work on the ground in more than a dozen focus countries and with partners in over 50 nations.