Blue Belt Programme: Autumn Newsletter

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Blue Belt Programme Newsletter

The Blue Belt Programme supports the delivery of the UK government’s commitment to enhance marine protection of over four million square kilometres of marine environment across UK Overseas Territories. The programme is a partnership between two world-leading agencies of the UK government, the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and the Overseas Territories. 

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Blue Belt Programme: Autumn Newsletter

Blue Belt Programme session at the 6th International Marine Conservation Congress

Blue Belt Programme session at IMCC6

The Blue Belt Programme team and UK Overseas Territories representatives shared their challenges and achievements during the Blue Belt Programme IMCC6 session.

On August 18th, the Blue Belt Programme team and UK Overseas Territories representatives from Ascension Island, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, St Helena and Tristan da Cunha, shared their challenges and achievements at the 6th International Marine Conservation Congress (IMCC6). The conference - originally planned to take place in Kiel, Germany - was moved online due to COVID-19 restrictions.

There were over 1,000 marine conservation professionals, policy makers and journalists registered to watch the presentations. Blue Belt Programme's Jo Stockill added, "looking back over the last four years brought into very clear focus exactly how much the programme has already achieved. But it also highlighted the challenges we have faced and continue to face in safeguarding the marine environment. The partnership work with the UK Overseas Territories has been at the heart of the programme’s achievements. IMCC6 was a great opportunity to be able to share our four-year journey with so many influential people within marine conservation.”

You can view Blue Belt Programme session social media highlights here or find out more about the session in our latest blog.


Whale watching visitor board shipped to Pitcairn Islands

Whale watching board is travelling to the Pitcairn Islands

The board will be placed on the new whale watching platform which is being constructed by the Government of the Pitcairn Islands on one of headlands on Pitcairn Island.


Following on from the development of a code of conduct for whale watching, the Blue Belt Programme has been working with the Government of the Pitcairn Islands (GPI) to develop an interpretation board.

The board will be placed on the new whale watching platform which is being constructed by GPI on one of headlands on Pitcairn Island. The board provides visitors with information about the different marine species they might see from the platform including humpback whales, which visit the Pitcairn Islands between May and October each year, and seabirds such as the red-tailed tropicbird and fairy tern.

The interpretation board has been shipped out to the Pitcairn Islands and is currently in New Zealand at the Pitcairn Islands Office awaiting the next supply ship to Pitcairn. It will be installed on the platform later this year.

UK Overseas Territories in the Blue Belt Programme feature in Conflict, Stability and Security Fund brochure

UK Overseas Territories in the Blue Belt Programme feature in Conflict, Stability and Security Fund brochure

UK Overseas Territories in the Blue Belt Programme feature in the latest publication by the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) promoting a sustainable future for the UK Overseas Territories. 

The Blue Belt Programme features heavily in the publication which includes a summary of projects funded by the UK Government’s CSSF. You can read the document on promoting a sustainable future for the UK Overseas Territories here.

Blue Belt Programme research topic opens for submissions

Blue Belt Programme special issue opens for submissions

Submissions have opened for a Blue Belt Programme research topic with the journal Frontiers In Marine Science.

The research topic will bring together work undertaken during the past 4 years of the UK Government's Blue Belt Programme to support many of the UK Overseas Territories during the designation, protection and management of some of the largest Marine Protected Areas in the world.

The research topic will showcase a range of studies, evidence and strategies used to ensure policy decisions were fully informed by evidence. The current list of proposed papers covers a wide range of disciplines and geographical areas across the UK Overseas Territories. Submissions are also welcomed from colleagues from around the world working on similar programs to add their experiences and lessons learned in relation to the development and management of Marine Protected Areas.

 Visit the research topic homepage to learn more and submit your abstracts.


St Helena marine tourism policy 

St Helena Marine Tourism Policy

St Helena marine tourism operators during training

The waters around St Helena are home to around 780 marine species. This includes large, charismatic species such as whale sharks, humpback whales and three species of resident dolphins. The island’s new airport has resulted in an increase in tourists, many of whom go on boat trips to see this amazing marine wildlife. Marine tourism is a new industry in St Helena, but it is expected to increase with growing publicity. An increase in boats can cause damage to marine habitats and disturb the very animals people have come to see. The St Helena Government is keen to make sure that expansion of marine tourism doesn’t have a negative impact on marine wildlife.

Over the past three years, the Blue Belt Programme has supported the St Helena Government to develop a strategy to sustainably manage tourism activities in their Marine Protected Area. We provided advice on developing a formal licencing scheme. Commercial tour operators will need to complete a training course and gain accreditation before applying for a licence. St Helena Government will also be able to place conditions on the licence. This will make sure that the activity does not cause any damage or disturbance.

This year, we assisted St Helena Government to develop their Marine Tourism Policy. This is the first step in implementing the new licencing scheme. The Policy was recently approved for consultation by the St Helena Environment and Natural Resources Committee. St Helena Government will now run a targeted consultation to allow the tour operators and other key stakeholders to have their say.


You can subscribe to future editions of the Blue Belt Programme newsletter here.