Launch of the Report: “Ocean Defenders: Protectors of Our Ocean Environment and Human Rights”

Rocío López de la Lama

Join us on 11 March for the Launch of the Report: “Ocean Defenders: Protectors of Our Ocean Environment and Human Rights”. Ocean defenders - including Indigenous Peoples, small-scale fishers, women, youth, and local communities - play a critical role in protecting marine environments and upholding human rights. However, they are increasingly marginalized, criminalized, and even murdered for their efforts. The Ocean Defenders Project is a collaborative initiative that seeks to raise awareness, amplify voices, and mobilize support for ocean defenders worldwide.

Register now

After three years of research and engagement, we are proud to launch the project’s final report. This webinar will present key findings, highlight the urgent threats facing ocean defenders, and explore ways to strengthen global support. The event will be of interest to ocean defenders, conservation practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and funders committed to protecting both people and the ocean.

Confirmed speakers include: 

  • Laura Furones (Senior Advisor, Global Witness)
  • Lamin Jassey (Ocean Defender, Gambia)
  • Leopoldo Gerhardinger (National Institute of the Atlantic Rainforest, Brazil)
  • Samiya Selim (University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh)
  • Alison Wright (Environmental Defenders Collaborative)
  • Nathan Bennett (Chair, People and the Ocean Specialist Group, IUCN)
  • Rocio Lopez de la Lama (The University of British Columbia)