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In Memoriam- Dr. Richard G. Rockefeller
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SSA Founding Chair David Shaw and Richard Rockefeller shake hands at Hamilton Declaration signing (March 2014).
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With heavy hearts, the Sargasso Sea Alliance remembers Dr. Richard G. Rockefeller, Chair of the SSA Executive Committee, who died tragically on June 13, 2014. We are honored to have worked with him so personally over the past four years. He was a tireless champion of our initiative, and his generous contribution and dedication to our initiative extended far beyond financial support. Richard's thoughtfulness and grace has been a large influence on all of us- we are devastated and heartbroken.
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Richard Rockefeller and SSA Executive Director Dr. David Freestone speaking with Bermudians at BIOS' Marine Science Day
(Sept. 2012).
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As we approach the launch of the Sargasso Sea Commission, we will keep close the memory of the genuine interest and fascination he had with the ocean and of how he sought so gently and patiently to understand the views of others.
Kristina Gjerde has very kindly agreed to step in as Acting Chair for the SSA Executive Committee.
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In Memoriam- Teddy Tucker
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The Sargasso Sea Alliance also notes with great sadness the passing of Teddy Tucker, who was one of the originators of the moves to protect the Sargasso Sea and steadfast supporters in Bermuda of the SSA project. Peter Benchley said of Teddy Tucker that "he brought the World to Bermuda and Bermuda to the World." We will miss his encyclopedic knowledge of the ocean and of the creatures of the ocean and his treasure of wonderful stories about the seas around Bermuda.
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Monaco proposes to list European eel under CMS Appendix II
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In our first success since the signing of the Hamilton Declaration, we are delighted to thank the Principality of Monaco for submitting a proposal to list the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) to Appendix II of the Convention on Migratory Species. This proposal will be considered by the CMS Scientific Council in July, and then by the CMS Conference of the Parties in November in Quito, Ecuador.
The European eel is already subject to protection measures under European Union Law and CITES, but listing the eel under the CMS Appendix II would indicate that its conservation status would benefit from international cooperation.
This move comes three months after Monaco was a signatory to the Hamilton Declaration under which governments pledged to collaborate in the development of proposals to protect the Sargasso Sea. The catadromous European eel, lives its life in freshwater then migrates thousands of miles to the Sargasso Sea, south of Bermuda to spawn and die; the small fry leptocephali, then find their way back to European waters to grow to maturity and then the cycle begins again.
The case for listing of the European eel was prepared by one of the world leading eel biologists, Dr Matthew Gollock of the London Zoological Society, under the sponsorship of the Sargasso Sea Alliance.
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Sargasso Sea Commission
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The selection process for the Sargasso Sea Commission is currently underway. Nominations are being considered by the Government of Bermuda, with input from the other Hamilton Declaration Signatories. The Commission is being established as a legal entity in Bermuda and registered as a local charity. The Government of Bermuda will announce Commission membership no later than 1 August 2014.
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Northwest Atlantic EBSA workshop considers Sargasso Sea
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In March, the Convention on Biological Diversity convened a regional workshop to consider potential Ecologically or Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs) in the Northwest Atlantic region. The New England and Corner Rise Seamount Chains were successfully included as Area #6 (see pages 95-100 of the workshop report). If adopted by the CBD CoP, this new EBSA description will complement the description of the Sargasso Sea EBSA from 2012, providing additional information and focus on the benthic habitat and structures of the seamounts. The SSA appreciates outreach from the CBD workshop co-chairs to discuss this potential (mutually beneficial) overlap.
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| Focus on Fisheries | | |
In July, the NAFO Joint Fisheries Commission-Scientific Council Working Group on Ecosystem Approach Framework to Fisheries Management will meet in Halifax to "comment and advise on whether the Sargasso Sea provides forage area or habitat for living marine resources that could be impacted by different types of fishing; and on whether there is a need for any management measure including a closure to protect this ecosystem". This question was discussed previously by the Scientific Council in Sept. 2013.
In September, the ICCAT Ecosystems Subcommittee Meeting in Portugal will receive two scientific papers prepared by Dr. Brian Luckhurst: an analysis of 20 years of catch data of ICCAT species within the Sargasso Sea as well as a "Preliminary Food Web of the Pelagic Environment of the Sargasso Sea with a Focus on the Fish Species of Interest to ICCAT". These studies were commissioned by SSA in support of the Ecosystem Subcommittee's consideration of the Sargasso Sea as a pilot for ecosystem based management.
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| Inter-American Turtle Convention explores collaboration | | |
In June, Kate Morrison participated in a meeting of the Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles- 7th Meeting of the IAC Consultative Committee of Experts in Gulfport, Florida. She made a presentation on the Alliance accomplishments to-date, the Hamilton Declaration and plans for the Sargasso Sea Commission.
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Kate Morrison presenting plans for the Sargasso Sea Commission. Credit: IAC Secretariat.
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In order to identify key areas of mutual interest, the SSA and IAC Secretariats are collaborating on the drafting of a "Concept Note on the importance of Sargassum and the Sargasso Sea for Atlantic Sea Turtles". The Concept Note, currently under review by IAC Parties, aims to show examples of connectivity between the Sargasso Sea and IAC Parties in the Caribbean and Latin America, such as a connection recently described between Bermuda, Costa Rica & Mexico.
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| Sea Education Association Symposium | | |
In May, Dr. David Freestone and Kristina Gjerde participated in a symposium hosted by the Sea Education Association.
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Kristina Gjerde discusses a student presentation in plenary. Credit: Sea Education Association
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Undergraduate students with the SEA Semester: Marine Biodiversity and Conservation (MBC) "Conservation in the Sargasso Sea Under the Hamilton Declaration" met to share student presentations and poster sessions on recently completed Sargasso Sea conservation and biodiversity research projects. Dr. David Freestone shared a presentation on recent SSA accomplishments and plans for the Sargasso Sea Commission.
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| Thank You | | Many thank you to our recent supporters as we approach the next phase of the Sargasso Sea initiative:
Charlotte's Web Foundation
Mission Blue
Oliver Yambo
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
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Thank you for your continued interest and support. We look forward to sharing more news on the launch of the Sargasso Sea Commission soon.
Sincerely,
Dr. David Freestone, Executive Director
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Kate Morrison, Deputy Executive Director
Sargasso Sea Alliance |
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