South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands mark 10th anniversary of MPA designation
Image: Sue Gregory
On 23 February 2022 we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area. The Government of South Georgia (GSGSSI), who with the British Antarctic Survey developed the MPA to conserve the region’s marine biodiversity, now work closely with the UK’s Blue Belt Programme to manage and safeguard these incredible waters.
At its designation in 2012, it was the first and largest MPA in South Atlantic, and regular reviews and subsequent enhancements ensure it continues to meet its objectives. As a sustainable use MPA, strictly regulated and highly precautionary fisheries are essential to managing the Maritime Zone by providing the revenue to fund a patrol vessel that protects against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, as well as contributing to scientific research programmes.
South Georgia is an ecosystem in recovery, and after historic overexploitation we are now seeing the return of whales and fish species such as marbled rockcod. The MPA supports globally significant populations of marine mammals and seabirds, and GSGSSI is committed to protecting ecosystems through active management and monitoring. A new Research and Monitoring Plan published in 2021 will guide scientific activities in the MPA, and keep your eyes peeled for the new SGSSI MPA Data Portal launching soon!
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Article by Sue Gregory, Marine Environment & Fisheries Manager, SGSSI Government
Chris Darby, Cefas Principal Marine Scientist, Blue Belt Programme, commented: "I'd like to congratulate GSGSSI on this landmark achievement, which demonstrates their huge contribution to world leading, effective, long-term marine conservation and sustainable resource management. We began providing scientific support and advice to SGSSI ten years ago, concurrent with the MPA designation. We have enjoyed the challenges that working in this extreme and remote area poses and are committed to ensuring the MPA continues to meet its objectives in a rapidly changing environment."
Pitcairn Islands training workshop on surveillance & enforcement
The Blue Belt Programme has been working with The Pacific Community (SPC) to create a series of training sessions for the Pitcairn Islands. The remotely delivered training, in basic Monitoring Control, Surveillance and Enforcement (MCS&E) skills and capacity building was provided to the Fisheries Officer and the Environment, Conservation & Natural Resources Division Manager.
However, during the development stages of the course and after discussions with the Blue Belt Programme team, the training was tailored for a wide audience so that members of the Pitcairn Island’s community could participate.
The successful completion of the course leads to a Professional Certificate in Community Compliance, once it has been accredited by the Pacific Communities Education, Quality Assurance Program (EQAP) - the leading training accreditation body for this Pacific region.
The training consisted of 5 sessions, each supported by relevant videos and background reading along with additional presentations by SPC coastal fisheries colleagues.
- Why we manage our marine and coastal resources
- Basic Biology and importance of ecosystem-based approach
- Let’s Focus on Lobsters and other species
- Fisheries Data - Catch and Effort, Economic
- Other Fisheries issues and land-based activities
The training sessions were well received and generated good discussion among participants.
Image: Folding measuring board designed by Pitcairn Islander Kerry Young. The tool includes notches for measuring lobsters and an end plate for measuring fish. Folding design so easily portable.
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Blue Shield visit to Bermuda
Pictured: Major Tom Wood, Andy Deary, John Edmonds, CSgt Tyler Smith, Joanna Stockill, Kylie Bamford
The Blue Shield Programme, which offers marine domain awareness assistance to UK Overseas Territories to strengthen their compliance and enforcement, launched in November with Bermuda as the first territory to join.
Joanna Stockill, Head of MMO’s Global Marine, Andy Deary, Global Marine’s Head of Compliance and Enforcement, and Kylie Bamford, Head of Marine Conservation at FCDO, visited the territory to meet with the Bermuda Governor, Her Excellency Ms Rena Lalgie and other key stakeholders to confirm the assistance the programme could provide to help Bermuda tackle issues such as illegal fishing.
In particular they discussed the scoping document and agreed the work programme both for the rest of this financial year and 2022-23.
Training on BRUVS provided to Global Ocean Wildlife Analysis Network Territories
The underwater cameras and additional kit as part of the Global Ocean Wildlife Analysis Network have now arrived in the majority of participating UK Overseas Territories. Before the deployment of the equipment, the Blue Belt Programme and Blue Abacus teams have provided representatives from the Territories training and support on using the kit and maximizing the data they can gather from it.
Recent sessions were conducted with the British Antarctic Survey team at Rothera research station in British Antarctic Territory, as well as with members of the marine unit at St Helena Government and St Helena Wildlife Trust (pictured).
Many of the Territories are now preparing to deploy their kit in the coming weeks and months and conduct their first surveys. The information they gather, once processed and analysed, will begin to help contribute to and inform the management and conservation of these incredibly biodiverse and unique areas of ocean.
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Blue Belt Programme hosts sustainable financing roundtable for UKOTs
A roundtable, bringing together experts in sustainable finance and representatives from the UK’s Overseas Territories in the Blue Belt Programme (UKOTs), along with key partners, was held remotely in February. ‘Sustainable Financing Mechanisms for Marine Protection and Management’ was agreed to be a key topic for discussion for the UKOTs and all benefited from the knowledge and experience shared by four leaders in the field:
- Angelique Pouponneau, Policy Adviser to the Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States
- Guillaume Le Port, MPA/NTZ Project Coordinator, BlueSeeds
- Gail Hurley, Director of Advisory, Finance Earth
- Melissa Garvey, Global Director of Ocean Protection, The Nature Conservancy
In addition, as well as participating in the roundtable discussion, representatives from the UKOTs introduced the specific challenges (and opportunities) they experienced. Representatives included:
- Elizabeth Clingham, Blue Belt Coordinator, St Helena Government
- Diane Baum, Director of Conservation and Fisheries, Ascension Island Government and
- Fiona Kilpatrick Administrator, Tristan da Cunha Government
The roundtable discussion was fascinating, with everyone acknowledging a significant global funding gap would need to be filled in order to effectively manage and protect our oceans. Examples shared by the guest speakers - along with the recognition that a diverse portfolio of financial approaches is required - provided the opportunity for some great ideas across all the participants.
 About the Blue Belt Programme
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 seven UK Overseas Territories.
You can subscribe to future editions of the Blue Belt Programme newsletter here.
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