The critical role of allied organizations in supporting ocean defenders

Abstract

The rapidly expanding ocean economy is a significant driver of global growth but often produces substantial negative impacts on coastal communities, including environmental degradation, displacement, and human rights violations. These harms are exacerbated by the longstanding marginalization and exclusion of these communities from marine and coastal governance. In response, ocean defenders are organizing to resist these injustices, but can experience both non-lethal and lethal attacks for doing so. This study examines the role of allied organizations – including grassroots networks, funders, legal non-profits, NGOs and INGOs, researchers, and journalists – in supporting and safeguarding defenders. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with both ocean defenders and representatives of allied organizations, our findings reveal that allies contribute by strengthening local capacities and skills, advocating and facilitating participation in decision-making, increasing visibility of defenders, conducting research and documentation, creating and supporting solidarity networks, providing financial support, enhancing security and safety protocols, and offering legal support. Yet current efforts remain largely short-term, isolated, and insufficient to meet defenders’ diverse and urgent needs. Allied organizations also face several challenges ranging from funding constraints to personal security risks. Addressing these challenges requires more flexibility in financing, stronger protection measures, and deeper collaboration between defenders and their allies. Above all, any strategy to support ocean defenders must center their voices and needs, ensuring they are at the forefront of current and future discussions and decisions related to the development of the ocean economy. • The ocean economy is pushing ocean defenders to engage in resistance efforts. • Ocean defenders face multiple threats and suffer their cumulative impacts. • Allied organizations play a critical role in supporting ocean defenders. • Support (long-term and context-specific) is limited but urgently required. • Allied organizations face challenges and threats when working with ocean defenders.