In March, at a Scientific Workshop in Brazil, the Sargasso Sea was recommended as an "Ecologically or Biologically Significant Area."SSA sponsored a team of scientists to participate in the Convention on Biological Diversity's Wider Caribbean and Western Mid-Atlantic Regional Workshop to Facilitate the Description of Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs), in Recife, Brazil- 28 February- 2 March

2012.  

Dr. Joanna Pitt presents Sargasso case in Recife, Brazil. Credit: D. Laffoley/SSA

These included: Jeff Ardron (Marine Conservation Institute), Professor Dan Laffoley (IUCN/WCPA; Sargasso Sea

Alliance Science Coordinator), Dr. Joanna Pitt (Bermuda Department of Environmental Protection), and Dr. Ricardo Santos (University of the Azores, Portugal).  

Dr. Joanna Pitt presented the Sargasso Sea proposal based on the SSA Science Case on behalf of the Government of Bermuda.  It was well-received and noted as "the best EBSA case ever seen."

The Alliance would like to thank Dr. Patrick Halpin and Jesse Cleary (Duke University Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab) for technical mapping assistance and overall guidance.

Recommendation as a possible EBSA is a significant step in line with the Alliance's objective to secure international recognition for the Sargasso Sea. The EBSA proposal now joins others for consideration at the upcoming CBD's Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) meeting, from 30 April- 4 May 2012 in Montreal.    

International Maritime Organization Marine

Kate Morrison and Kristina Gjerde at IMO headquarters.  Credit: C. Tjabbes

Environmental Protection Committee

Kristina Gjerde, Professor Howard Roe and Kate Killerlain Morrison offered a panel discussion on the SSA at the International Maritime Organization Marine and Environmental Protection Committee meeting on 29 February 2012 in London. The side event drew over 60 representatives from Member States and Observer organizations and included discussion about continued education and outreach to mariners throughout our project.

Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography 

Professor Howard Roe presented at the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography in Salt Lake City, Utah on 22 February 2012, where scientists showed great interest in SSA efforts and approach and learned more about time series analyses coming from the Sargasso Sea.

Caribbean Fisheries Forum  

Dr. Tammy Trott from the Bermuda Department of Environmental Protection participated in the Caribbean Fisheries Forum in the Bahamas the last week in March 2012, with partial SSA support. Highlights to follow in our next newsletter.  

Collaborating with the Northeast Atlantic

Communications Products

SSA is beginning to revise the Summary Science and Evidence Case to address UK FCO comments, update additional information and obtain and create graphics and images. Two informational brochures are also being finalized to give an overview of the Sargasso Sea and the need for protection.

We had the pleasure to participate in the preparation of a poster map with SSA Partner WWF International, the Nautical Institute, Global MET (Global Maritime Education and Training Association), and Maritime Training Services (MTS) to raise awareness of seafarers about the uniqueness of the area, calling them to reduce pollution at the source by not throwing anything (especially plastics) over the board.  

Credit: M. Dominique, Bermuda Humpback Whale Project

The Alliance also facilitated comments and the finalization of a NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Fact Sheet on the Letter of Intent between NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary and the Government of Bermuda. The Fact Sheet is expected to be posted on the Sanctuary's website in the coming weeks.   

Credit:  M. Ittner

On Sunday, 22 April 2012, Earth Day, the Pyramid Atlantic Art Center will be unveiling their new exhibit,
The Sargasso Sea Scrolls, in the Washington, DC area. Please email kmorrison@sargassoalliance.org for more information. The exhibit will be seen in Bermuda at a later date.   

SSA Welcomes Bermuda-based Staff

In February 2012, the Alliance welcomed Dr. Samia Sarkis to the team as our Bermuda-based Programme Officer. Dr. Sarkis, who is also a consultant to the Bermuda Department of Conservation Services, will be serving as a liaison to the Washington, DC based SSA Secretariat, on a part-time basis. Dr. Sarkis will also be representing SSA at local meetings for the Pew Blue Halo project, Bermuda Alliance for the Sargasso Sea (BASS), and others as needed.    

Dr. Sarkis holds a Ph.D. from the University of Plymouth. She has been the UKOT Biodiversity Steering Committee representative for Bermuda since 2007, and serves as a senior researcher at the Department of Conservation Services, Government of Bermuda.  

While we work to develop a SSA email, Dr. Sarkis can be reached at scsarkis@gov.bm or (441) 293 2727 Ext. 2143.  

Please note that Dr. Derrick Binns, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Planning and Infrastructure Strategy remains the lead Government of Bermuda contact for Alliance activities.  

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Sarkis to our team.