Sargasso Sea Commission

Excellent seminar on sea level rise at CLIMA - Centre for Climate Change Law and Governance! Big thanks to Prof. David Freestone, to the chair Viktor Weber and to all the participants in person and online!

The Sargasso Sea Commission held its second project steering committee for its GEF-UNDP-IOC project last week at World Maritime University in Malmo. The meeting brought together scientific expert Commissioners and governmental representatives to wrap up the preceding year of the GEF project, and settle a workplan for the upcoming year. The meeting was led by David Vousden, project CTA, and chaired by David Freestone, Executive Secretary of the Sargasso Sea Commission. It was funded by the Global Environment Facility, and graciously hosted by World Maritime University Global Ocean Institute Ronan Long The meeting also coincided with discussions at World Maritime University on their Future Oceans Programme, with innovative discussions on the BBNJ agreement and the future of ocean conservation. #HighSeasTreaty #oceanconservation #highseas #SargassoSea #GEF #IWLearn

The Sargasso Sea Commission GEF-UNDP-IOC project was delighted to learn from contacts in the international shipping community during a workshop on voluntary measures including decarbonization in and around the Sargasso Sea on December 3rd as part of the project's stakeholder engagement strategy. This meeting was hosted by BIMCO at their Copenhagen office, in association with CLIMA - Centre for Climate Change Law and Governance, with funding from the Carlsberg Foundation. The stakeholder engagement strategy itself has been developed by NLA International - Blue Economy Solutions. The meeting brought together industry representatives, IGOs, and academics to discuss human impacts faced by the Sargasso Sea, such as the impacts of climate change and cetacean strikes - and possible voluntary measures that could help combat them, including green/blue corridors, speed reductions, observation systems, certification systems, and more. 💡 A report will be produced and key findings will be shared on our website. Many thanks to everyone involved either in person or online! David Freestone Kieran Bjergstrom Kevin Fleming Andrew Hudson Jesse Cleary David Vousden Ana Stella Ebbersmeyer Federica Catonini Nick Lambert Jesper Jarl Fanø Aron F. Sørensen Rune Jørgensen Daae Dr Bev Mackenzie

🌊 Last week, CLIMA - Centre for Climate Change Law and Governance had the privilege of co-hosting a workshop to Identify Sargasso Sea Impacts and voluntary measures including Decarbonization in and around the Sargasso Sea. The event took place in #Copenhagen at BIMCO headquarters, as part of our #InterAct project, funded by the Carlsberg Foundation. This event, organized in collaboration with the Sargasso Sea Commission David Freestone and brought together a diverse group of experts, including industry representatives, IGOs, and academics. Together, we explored strategies to mitigate the shipping industry's impacts on the Sargasso Sea, a region of immense ecological and socio-economic importance. Highlights included: ✅ Discussions on voluntary blue/green corridors using sustainable fuels. ✅ Identification of effective monitoring and data-sharing mechanisms for ecosystem preservation. ✅ Innovative approaches to voluntary routing and sustainability measures tailored to sensitive marine ecosystems. Thanks to everyone involved: David Freestone Fae Sapsford Kieran Bjergstrom Kevin Fleming Andrew Hudson Jesse Cleary David Vousden Ana Stella Ebbersmeyer Viktor Weber Federica Catonini Nick Lambert Jesper Jarl Fanø Aron F. Sørensen Rune Jørgensen Daae

Congratulations to our newly appointed Sargasso Sea Commissioners! Dr Ana Colaço returns for a second term, and Dr Frank Muller-Karger and Dr David Johnson are first time appointments. “The ecology of the offshore Sargasso Sea and Bermuda’s inshore waters are fundamentally connected. I am excited to support the continued work of the Commission in its efforts to conserve this iconic area, which supports the migration routes of animals throughout the Atlantic basin. These new Commissioner appointments have the scientific and diplomatic expertise necessary to acts as excellent stewards of the Sargasso Sea,” said the Hon. Walter H. Roban, Deputy Premier and Minister of Home Affairs. The Commission would also like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank outgoing term-bound Commissioners Mr Mark Spalding and Prof Stephen deMora. #highseas #oceanconservation #sciencepolicy #UNCLOS https://lnkd.in/eY4Wd-FV

A historic moment at #COP16! Yesterday, Bloomberg Philanthropies joined a group of top philanthropies, including Bezos Earth Fund, Arcadia, and more, in announcing an unprecedented $51.7 million commitment to accelerate the establishment of Marine Protected Areas in the high seas. 🌊 This is the largest-ever funding from private philanthropy for high seas protection, and will help us achieve our goal of protecting and conserving at least 30% of the world’s ocean by 2030. The pledge also emphasizes the importance of supporting Global South leadership in the delivery of #30x30 and ensuring equitable access to ocean resources. Proud to be a part of these critical efforts to safeguard our ocean and the billions of people who depend on it. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/egg8h8z3

The Hon. Minister Walter Roban has highlighted the work of the Sargasso Sea Commission alongside José Manuel Bolieiro, the President of the Regional Government of the Azores during an event celebrating the 175th anniversary of Portuguese arrival in Bermuda. He said: “We are bound by the Atlantic and the vibrant, life-sustaining Sargasso Sea, which brings us together as one ocean community. He said both have been at the forefront of the Sargasso Sea Commission, which was established in 2014 with the signing of the Hamilton Declaration in Bermuda. https://lnkd.in/eMdhG3Q8 #bermuda #azores #sargassosea #highseastreaty #bbnj

[#COP16Colombia] The 16th Conference of the Parties to UN Biodiversity is approaching and you're wondering what is at stake for the ocean? Read our new article 💡 🔗 https://lnkd.in/et-jqaUk In just a few days, the Ocean & Climate Platform and numerous organisations of the ocean community will head to Cali, Colombia, to attend what will be the first COP since the adoption of the #GlobalBiodiversityFramework, designed to halt, and ultimately reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. With just five years remaining to meet these targets, the urgency for effective implementation is greater than ever. 🕦 🌊 In this race against time, maintaining the health of the #ocean and its ecosystems is vital to address biodiversity loss and accelerate the delivery of the #GBF. Read our article to learn more about our priorities to ensure full consideration of the ocean in the implementation of the Framework. #OceanforClimate #OceanforBiodiversity

Fascinating #COP16 side event today considered role of new technologies in monitoring, control and surveillance of future High Seas #MPAs. We now have extraordinary access to remotely sensed information on human activities in remotest parts of the ocean - check out Global Fishing Watch - but how can this advance enforcement if digital and remotely sensed evidence remains inadmissible as evidence in court? For more: https://lnkd.in/eSn6uVj6

✨ Thrililing news! One of the esteemed members of our extended team is to receive the prestigious 2024 Award from the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University. 🥇 Award Recipients: Kristina Gjerde, IUCN Senior High Seas Advisor and valued member of the SARGADOM Advisory Board, will be honored alongside Singapore's Ambassador for International Law, Rena Lee. Their exceptional contributions to international environmental law and diplomacy, particularly in safeguarding biodiversity in the high seas, have earned them this distinguished accolade. 🗓️ Event Details: The award ceremony, titled "Safeguarding Biodiversity in the High Seas," will take place on Thursday, October 24, 2024. Attendees can join in person at Pace University or participate virtually via Zoom. 👥 Distinguished Panelists: The evening will feature a panel discussion moderated by Professor Nicholas A. Robinson, a renowned authority on environmental law. Joining the conversation will be Dr. David Freestone, Executive Director and SARGADOM project coordinator at the Sargasso Sea Commission. We encourage all those interested in environmental law, global conservation efforts, and the protection of our oceans to attend this significant event. It presents a unique opportunity to gain insights from world-leading experts in the field. For more information and registration details, please visit the Pace Haub Environmental Law Program page below. #EnvironmentalLaw #OceanConservation #SARGADOM #ElisabethHaubAward #HighSeas