What changed
Tanzania will host the 12th Conference of the Parties to the Nairobi Convention in Dar es Salaam from October 6 to 9, 2026. Ten contracting parties are expected to discuss marine pollution, illegal fishing, climate resilience, biodiversity and investment in a sustainable blue economy.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan is expected to open the conference, with Zanzibar President Hussein Mwinyi expected to close it. The meeting is also expected to produce a Dar es Salaam Declaration and select the convention’s leadership council for 2026–2028.
Why it matters
This puts Tanzania at the centre of decisions affecting the Western Indian Ocean. The agenda links environmental protection to practical economic activity, including fisheries, aquaculture, marine tourism and maritime transport.
That combination is important. The conference is not only about keeping pollution out of the water. It is also about deciding whether investment in coastal economies can proceed without damaging the ecosystems those economies depend on.
Tanzania also wants the meeting to deepen scientific and technological cooperation. Marine Spatial Planning is included, which could give regional governments a more evidence-based way to decide how marine areas are used. The talks will also seek common positions on the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction agreement, covering marine life in areas beyond national control.
The opportunity is real, but the outcome is still open. The declaration, final decisions and any investment commitments have yet to be confirmed. The useful test after October 9 will be whether the promises become joint action on pollution, illegal fishing, climate resilience and coastal conservation.
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