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Bermuda Environment Minister joins SSA Steering Committee
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Hon. Sylvan Richards, Jr., JP, MP
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The new Minister of Environment and Planning, following the election in Bermuda in December 2012, is Hon. Sylvan Richards, Jr., JP, MP. We are pleased to announce that he has enthusiastically agreed to join the SSA Steering Committee, underscoring the on-going commitment of the Government of Bermuda for the Sargasso Sea Alliance. |
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Sargasso Sea iPhone app launched
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Credit: M. Ittner and A. Jeffrey
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Conserving the Sargasso Sea is the first-ever iPhone app developed for a proposal to protect a high seas marine area.
The app offers a map of the Study Area, nine reasons why the area should be protected (and associated images), recent news updates and links to more information about project partners and relevant international organizations. The app was developed for the general public, to educate users about the importance of the Sargasso Sea and to share information on a proposal to protect a high seas marine area in a mobile and easily portable format. Click here for free download from the iTunes store. Special thanks to our developer Andy Jeffrey and to Prof. Dan Laffoley for overall guidance.
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Presentation to EU Council Law of the Sea Working Group
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Lex Building, Brussels
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On 4 March Dr David Freestone, Executive Director of the SSA gave a presentation to COMAR - the EU Council of Ministers Working Group on the Law of the Sea at their meeting in the new Lex Building in Brussels. This presentation, sponsored by the UK Delegation, is the first time an outside speaker has been able to attend a COMAR meeting. David was able to explain the objectives, achievement and future plans of the Alliance, and in particular provide details of the proposed Hamilton Inter-Ministerial Meeting on Collaboration for the Conservation of the Sargasso Sea. The presentation was well received with a number of expressions of support from EU member countries.
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Ocean Governance meetings
| | On 18-19 March 2013, Dr. David Freestone and Kristina Gjerde participated in the UNESCO Workshop on the World Heritage Convention. This workshop was to explore the possibility (not currently envisaged by the text of the Convention) to inscribe World Heritage sites in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ), including the Sargasso Sea. The Alliance anticipates ongoing involvement as this is explored further. For more information on the World Heritage Marine Programme, please click here.
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Dr. David Freestone- IASS/IDDRI workshop
Credit: Institute for Advanced Sustainability
Studies (IASS)
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On 20-21 March 2013, Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) and the French Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI) Workshop on an Implementing Agreement to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) for Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ). The meeting included 40 leading international experts in marine environmental protection. Dr. David Freestone chaired day one of the discussions and Kristina Gjerde participated as a lead organizer. The forthcoming workshop publication will include a case study on the Sargasso Sea. |
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Workshop on the preparation of a billfish management and conservation plan for the Western Central Atlantic
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Dr. Tammy Trott, Bermuda Department of Environmental Protection, and Kate Morrison, Sargasso Sea Alliance, participated in the first working group meeting on billfish management and conservation in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, 20-21 March 2013.
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Credit: M. Perez, OSPESCA
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The Workshop was conducted within the framework of the WECAFC/OSPESCA/CRFM/CFMC Working Group on Recreational Fisheries. The Workshop was hosted by the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) and was co-organized by The Billfish Foundation (TBF), the World Bank and the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (WECAFC) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
The workshop furthered discussions regarding pilot proposals for the World Bank and Global Environment Facility (GEF) for financing under its Programme on "Ocean Partnerships for Sustainable Fisheries and Biodiversity Conservation - Models for Innovation and Reform". The Sargasso Sea Alliance is currently considering membership in the Consortium on Billfish Management and Conservation in the Western Central Atlantic (CBMC). |
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Thanks for your support
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Special thanks again to the support of our donors who have made contributions in 2013:
Ricardo Cisneros
Dr. Richard Rockefeller
Roger and Victoria Sant Founders' Fund
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We appreciate your on-going interest and look forward to sharing further updates.
Sincerely,
Dr. David Freestone, Executive Director
Sargasso Sea Alliance |
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