Dear Foreign Secretary,
We, a vibrant collection of organizations and engaged community members from Bermuda, are reaching out with a strong and united call for action. We urge you to partner with us in establishing a high seas ocean sanctuary in the Sargasso Sea, a unique place for biodiversity and a vital part of our natural heritage.
The Sargasso Sea, known as the "golden floating rainforest" due to its extensive sargassum seaweed, encircles the islands of Bermuda—the only landmass within its bounds. This region is not only crucial for its ecological diversity but also serves as the cultural and economic bedrock of our island. Bermuda’s livelihoods, particularly our tourism and fishing industries, are deeply intertwined with the health of our surrounding waters.
The recent adoption of the Global Ocean Treaty by the United Nations marks an historic opportunity. This treaty provides the essential framework needed to protect the high seas, enabling countries to establish a global network of ocean sanctuaries aimed at preserving at least 30% of the world's oceans by 2030—a goal that leaders and scientists alike deem the absolute minimum to ensure the ocean's recovery and resilience.
Bermuda has long been a steward of the Sargasso Sea, advocating for its protection and sustainable management. But protecting this special area will deliver benefits not only to Bermuda but to the global community at large. A well-managed sanctuary will safeguard the Sargasso Sea’s unique biodiversity for generations to come, and will also protect a significant carbon store that plays a crucial role in mitigating climate change.
We cannot achieve this alone. As a UK Overseas Territory, Bermuda cannot ratify the Treaty, but we must be involved in the process to protect the high seas that surround us. We need the United Kingdom and countries around the world to ratify the Global Ocean Treaty and start developing plans for ocean sanctuaries as a matter of urgency.
We urge you to:
Collaborate with Bermuda and international partners to designate the Sargasso Sea as the first sanctuary under the new treaty.
Swiftly ratify the Global Ocean Treaty and support states across the world to do the same.
Appoint Bermuda as a permanent member of any governing board overseeing the Sargasso Sea sanctuary, ensuring that the island's welfare is consistently represented in all decision-making processes.
Your leadership in these matters is crucial for the protection of the Sargasso Sea and our shared future. We eagerly await your favorable response and look forward to collaborating with you to ensure the Sargasso Sea, a treasure within our shared global ocean, receives the protection it urgently needs.
