The Ocean20 inception meeting took place on 28 May at the University of Mpumalanga in Mbombela, with both in-person and online participation. It marked a big step in South Africa’s role in shaping the global Ocean20 agenda.

Dr Mary-Jane Bopape, managing director of SAEON, opened the event, setting the stage for collaboration across sectors. Dr Tammy Morris, the Ocean20 SA lead coordinator, outlined South Africa’s focus areas and how they connect to the global Ocean20 framework. She emphasised that local action is essential to reaching global goals.

A key focus was on inclusion and sustainability. The Ocean20 Social Engagement Group led lively conversations about ocean governance and real-world impact.

An interactive session led by Dr Morris looked at what “ocean economy” really means. She stressed the importance of using shared language to guide policy, investment and community involvement.

Throughout the day, exciting projects were showcased. These included ECON-SA (presented by Ms Safiyya Sedick), coastal technology updates (from Mr Jethan d’Hotman online and Prof. Juliet Hermes, manager of the Egagasini Node) and the proposed SAMREF Ocean Action Network (by Ms Nicole du Plessis). Each presentation showed how real-world efforts are already driving change.

In the afternoon, a session on Blue Foods and Food Security sparked deep discussion on the link between ocean resources and the nation’s food systems. Speakers like Ms Mashebane Thosago (SA Women in Fisheries), Mr Gert le Roux (Woolworths), Ms Aphiwe Moshani (University of Cape Town) and Dr Serge Raemaekers (Abalobi) highlighted key challenges and opportunities in this growing sector.

Key messages

Two key messages stood out:

• “We can’t have a sustainable ocean without inclusion.”
• “Without the ocean, there is no economy.”

Participants called for stronger alignment between national policies and community needs, more support for new sectors like Blue Foods, and ongoing efforts to make sure local voices are heard.

The meeting ended with a shared promise to build a strong Ocean20 legacy for South Africa, one that’s built on unity, innovation and long-term sustainability.

Watch the full inception meeting here:

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyKkJo-U1Io](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyKkJo-U1Io)