A call to action to support and safeguard ocean defenders

Bennett N.J.; López de la Lama R.; Araos F.; Ayilu R.K.; Barua P.; Blythe J.L.; Childs J.; Das J.; De la Puente S.; Ertör I.; Ertör-Akyazi P.; Farbin T.; Gerhardinger L.C.; Glaser M.; Govan H.; Guasch A.; Le Billon P.; Lopes P.F.M.; Marschke M.; Nair N.V.; Nayak P.K.; Nyameke I.; Nyiawung R.A.; Pereira Kaplan T.; Riquelme W.; Sall A.; Selim S.A.; Souza G.B.G.; Vave R.; Carter A.L.; Gomei M.; Honig M.B.; Sibthorpe E.; Indarjeet M.; Jassey L.; Lukanga E.; Repelente T.P.T.; Fisher O.L.; Andrachuk M.; Blasco C.; Borges Doroso M.; Boyle J.S.; Breckwoldt A.; Britton E.; Castillo G.; Chan K.M.A.; Chang K.K.J.; Chapman J.K.; Charles A.; Costalago D.; Eyholzer R.; Fernandes G.S.; Finkbeiner E.M.; Fitzpatrick J.; Fritsch D.M.; Garcia Rodrigues J.; Gómez S.; Hoggett E.; Holly G.; Horta e Costa B.; Hugé J.; Ibadin P.; Jakpor P.E.; Jament J.; Kadhemi M.Q.; Kageyama M.; Kakande M.; Kayanga P.; Keingati J.; Kelling I.; Kelly M.M.R.; Kinds A.; Koman F.P.; Leeney R.H.; Lenz M.-I.; Leone C.A.; Lubetkin M.; Makupa E.E.; Manca F.; Marty-Gastaldi J.; Mbatha P.; McElroy L.S.; Medina E.; Mngomezulu J.T.; Munayco Silva P.; Nahiduzzaman M.; Nehal N.; Nuesiri E.O.; Núñez F.P.; Otterstrom S.M.; Partelow S.; Patil B.L.; Pereira L.M.; Pijoan M.; Prado D.S.; Ramirez-Monsalve P.; Rayo-Luengo S.; Rubin A.; Sabourault C.; Sanchez Tirona R.; Sangiorgi Monroy P.; Schultz T.; Sow E.H.A.; Sturz J.; Swanson S.S.; Tolve L.; Ugolini L.; Urteaga J.; Vaidianu N.; Velonjara J.A.; Vieira S.; White A.T.; Sumaila U.R. · NPJ Ocean Sustainability (2026) · DOI: 10.1038/s44183-026-00233-x

Resumen

Coastal communities worldwide face growing environmental and human rights burdens from the expanding ocean economy. Yet ocean defenders who mobilize to defend the marine environment, their territories, and their rights often experience repression, intimidation, and violence. Society has a moral and legal duty to protect human rights and ocean defenders. Governments, the private sector, civil society organizations, funders, human rights institutions, and the international ocean governance community must mobilize urgently to support and safeguard ocean defenders. © The Author(s) 2026.

Instituciones: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia