Ocean Week at 25: Charting America's Maritime Past, Present, and Future

SILVER SPRING, Md. – April 30, 2026 – As the United States prepares to commemorate its 250th anniversary, the nation’s premier ocean and Great Lakes policy conference, Capitol Hill Ocean Week (CHOW), is marking a milestone of its own. The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation today announced the program for its 25th anniversary event, set to run from June 2-4 in Washington, D.C. This year's theme, "Voyages and Breakthroughs," will convene a diverse array of policymakers, scientists, and community leaders to explore the profound ways America's waters have shaped its history and will define its future.

Hosted by the Foundation, CHOW has long served as a critical nexus for ocean advocacy. This year’s confluence of anniversaries provides a unique backdrop for the discussions. "As we approach these twin milestones—the 250th anniversary of our nation and the 25th anniversary of Capitol Hill Ocean Week—we have a rare opportunity not only to reflect on the central role of our waters and coastal communities in America's history, but to shape their role in its future," said Joel R. Johnson, President and CEO of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. The free conference, available both in-person and online, will feature keynotes and panels on marine heritage, ecological restoration, working waterfronts, and the next wave of ocean technology.

A Quarter-Century of Shaping Blue Policy

For 25 years, CHOW has been more than just a meeting; it has been a crucible for policy and a platform for progress. Its history mirrors the evolution of the marine conservation movement itself. While early conferences focused on foundational issues, recent years have seen the agenda tackle more complex and urgent challenges. In 2021, CHOW addressed racial equity and justice within the conservation movement, and the 2024 conference centered on "Leadership," with a focus on climate action, youth engagement, and the burgeoning Blue Economy.

The conference has consistently been a stage for significant policy announcements. At CHOW 2024, attendees witnessed the official designation of the Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary and the launch of both the National Aquatic eDNA Strategy and the U.S. National Strategy for a Sustainable Ocean Economy. These initiatives, born from the type of cross-sector collaboration CHOW fosters, demonstrate the event's tangible impact on national stewardship, translating high-level discussions into concrete conservation and economic strategies that affect waters from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico.

Honoring Legends and Innovators of the Deep

A centerpiece of Capitol Hill Ocean Week is the annual Ocean Awards Gala, a ceremony that recognizes champions who have dedicated their lives and resources to the marine world. This year’s honorees represent the full spectrum of ocean stewardship, from historical preservation to corporate innovation.

The prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Dr. James P. Delgado, a renowned maritime archaeologist whose career has spanned nearly five decades. Currently the Senior Advisor for Cultural Heritage for The Ocean Foundation, Dr. Delgado's work has taken him to the world’s most iconic underwater sites, including the RMS Titanic, the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor, and the wreck of the slave ship Clotilda. His leadership at NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries helped safeguard America's submerged cultural heritage, and his extensive writing has made the world beneath the waves accessible to all.

Receiving the Conservation Innovation Award is Viking, the cruise line that has made significant strides in sustainable maritime operations. The award recognizes the company's commitment to reducing its environmental footprint through advanced technology. Viking has outfitted its fleet with energy-efficient engines and advanced wastewater treatment systems and is pioneering the use of hydrogen fuel cells, with plans to launch the world's first hydrogen-powered cruise ship, the Viking Libra, in 2026. This commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050 is bolstered by research partnerships with leading academic institutions like UC San Diego Scripps Institution of Oceanography and NOAA.

The Mariners' Museum and Park in Newport News, Virginia, will receive the Maritime Heritage Distinguished Service Award. As America's National Maritime Museum, it houses one of the most comprehensive maritime collections in the world. The museum is the custodian of the artifacts from the Civil War ironclad USS Monitor, whose wreck site became the nation's first national marine sanctuary. Through its advanced conservation labs and extensive educational programs, the museum connects millions to the human story of the sea, preserving the voyages of the past to inspire the breakthroughs of the future.

From Ancient Wisdom to Future Tech

The "Voyages and Breakthroughs" theme will come to life through the expertise of its featured speakers, bridging millennia of human experience with the ocean.

Representing the wisdom of ancient voyages is Nainoa Thompson, President of the Polynesian Voyaging Society. A master navigator, Thompson revived the traditional art of wayfinding—navigating the vast Pacific without instruments. He famously guided the Hōkūleʻa, a replica of an ancient voyaging canoe, on a three-year circumnavigation of the globe, spreading a message of cultural revitalization and planetary stewardship. His perspective offers a powerful reminder that some of the most profound breakthroughs come from understanding and respecting timeless knowledge.

Juxtaposed with this ancient wisdom is the conference's focus on cutting-edge technology. Discussions will delve into the breakthroughs transforming marine science and conservation. This includes the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) for non-invasive biodiversity monitoring, the deployment of AI-powered autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) to map uncharted seafloors, and the development of new technologies to restore coral reefs and manage sustainable fisheries. These innovations are essential tools as policymakers and scientists grapple with the immense challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss.

From Coast to Capitol: Driving Policy Action

Ultimately, CHOW is about action. The conference is strategically aligned with the most pressing legislative issues facing the ocean and Great Lakes, from building coastal resilience against climate change to fostering a sustainable Blue Economy and achieving the nation's "30x30" conservation goals. By bringing community leaders, Indigenous knowledge keepers, and industry innovators to the table, the event ensures that policy discussions are grounded in the real-world needs of those who depend on healthy waters.

The inclusion of Indigenous leaders and their Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) has become a cornerstone of the conference, acknowledging that effective stewardship requires a holistic approach that respects cultural practices and food sovereignty. The week's events culminate on June 4 with Hill Day, a crucial component that provides a direct channel for advocacy. Attendees will take the insights and momentum from the conference directly to the offices of Congress, engaging with lawmakers to advance policies that support healthy ocean communities and economies, and turning three days of dialogue into a year of impactful change.