Today, the Governments of the United Kingdom and Bermuda welcomed partners from governments, civil society and the scientific community to the inaugural signing of the Hamilton II Declaration.
More than a decade after the signing of the Hamilton Declaration, the Hamilton II Declaration demonstrates the continued commitment of partners to the conservation of the Sargasso Sea and reflects growing international support for collaborative action to protect marine environments.
The Declaration recognises the global importance of the Sargasso Sea and is designed to begin the process for States Party to the BBNJ (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction) Agreement to adopt legally binding measures to protect the Sargasso Sea.
With the BBNJ Agreement now in force, and the UK being a party to it, it provides a global framework for legal protections that did not previously exist. State Parties will meet for the first BBNJ Conference of Parties in January 2027 in New York, and the signing today of this Declaration is the start of the process to gain their support.
The initiative is led by Bermuda and the UK, working together. It has involved detailed consultations with states and civil society and has been made possible by the work of the Sargasso Sea Commission and the governments, scientists, conservation organisations and civil society partners whose leadership, expertise and commitment have advanced the protection of the Sargasso Sea over more than a decade.
We also pay tribute to the role of Government House, Bermuda, in bringing individuals and organisations to pursue this initiative.
The Hon. Jache Adams JP MP, Minister of Public Works and Environment) said: "Today's signing is both a celebration of what has been achieved since the original Hamilton Declaration and a commitment to the work that still lies ahead. The Sargasso Sea is one of the world's great ocean ecosystems, and its conservation depends on the willingness of nations and partners to work together toward a common purpose."
"Bermuda is proud that the international effort to protect the Sargasso Sea began here, and we are equally proud to host the inaugural signing of the Hamilton II Declaration. Together with our partners, we are helping to build momentum for stronger global protections and demonstrating the power of collaboration in addressing the challenges facing our ocean."
UK Minister for Overseas Territories, Uma Kumaran MP, said: “The Hamilton II Declaration is a joint endeavour between Bermuda and the United Kingdom, developed through extensive engagement with states and civil society. It builds on more than a decade of leadership and commitment from the Sargasso Sea Commission, governments, scientists, conservation organisations and civil society partners dedicated to the protection of the Sargasso Sea including its unique biodiversity. The initiative has also benefited from Government House Bermuda's role in fostering dialogue and bringing together the partners whose expertise and collaboration have helped make this possible."
Also signing today are representatives of the Azores, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, Monaco and the Turks and Caicos Islands as well as over twenty non-government organisations. We hope that others will do so at the Conference of the Parties.
We intend a further signing ceremony to take place at the first meeting of the BBNJ Conference of the Parties in January, at which the EU have signalled their intent to sign. We encourage all interested partners to join this collective effort and reaffirm our collective commitment to working together to secure the long-term conservation of the Sargasso Sea and the wider ocean on which we all depend.
