Cooperation is Crucial for Safety in The Arctic: “We Cannot Do This Alone” Allied organizations play a critical role in supporting ocean defenders facing threats from the expanding ocean economy. As marine policy researchers document, these defenders—organizing against environmental degradation and human rights violations—encounter both non-lethal and lethal attacks for their resistance efforts. The study emphasizes that allied organizations, including grassroots networks, funders, legal non-profits, NGOs, INGOs, researchers and journalists, are essential in strengthening local capacities, advocating for participation in decision-making, increasing defender visibility, conducting research and documentation, creating solidarity networks, providing financial support, enhancing security and safety protocols, and offering legal assistance. The research highlights that long-term, context-specific support from allied organizations remains limited but urgently required. Ocean defenders face cumulative impacts from multiple threats, exacerbated by the marginalization of coastal communities from marine and coastal governance. Allied organizations encounter their own challenges and threats when collaborating with defenders, underscoring the complex ecosystem of support needed in ocean defense efforts. The findings draw on semi-structured interviews with both ocean defenders and representatives of allied organizations, revealing a consistent message: effective resistance and safety depend on collective action. As one defender noted during interviews, “we cannot do this alone, more especially when we were arrested… we cannot achieve what we want only by ourselves.” This sentiment reflects the interdependence between frontline defenders and their allied supporters in confronting the pressures of the ocean economy. Without robust allied support, ocean defenders remain vulnerable to the escalating risks associated with resisting unsustainable marine development. The study concludes that safeguarding these efforts requires sustained, adaptive collaboration across organizational boundaries to ensure both the security of defenders and the integrity of their missions. Key Takeaways – Ocean defenders face increasing threats from the expanding ocean economy, including environmental degradation and human rights violations. – Allied organizations provide essential support through capacity building, advocacy, visibility, research, solidarity networks, funding, security enhancements, and legal aid. – Long-term, context-specific support is urgently needed but currently limited. – Both defenders and allies encounter challenges and threats in their collaborative work. – Effective ocean defense relies on collective action, as emphasized by defenders’ assertion that “we cannot do this alone.” Sources [1] Marine Policy, Volume 187, May 2026, 107060. “The critical role of allied organizations in supporting ocean defenders.” https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308597X26000308 [2] ResearchGate, January 27, 2026. “The critical role of allied organizations in supporting ocean defenders.” https://www.researchgate.net/publication/400058490_The_critical_role_of_allied_organizations_in_supporting_ocean_defenders
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