This week marks the anniversary of the signing of the Hamilton Declaration on Collaboration for the Conservation of the Sargasso Sea, on March 11 2014 when we gathered in Bermuda to mark the signing of the Declaration by the Azores, Bermuda, Monaco, the United Kingdom and the United States.   

Hamilton Declaration signing ceremony, March 11, 2014, Bermuda Credit: Government of Bermuda

We have made great strides over the past year, and in looking ahead, we are encouraged by the opportunity of America's Cup coming to Bermuda in 2017 to further showcase the Sargasso Sea to the global community.

The Sargasso Sea Commission, appointed in August 2014, is now fully operational and has designated four priority themes in the Work Programme.  

Sargasso Sea Commissioners. Credit: K. Morrison

Some key highlights of progress in those areas are listed below.         

United Nations, NYC. Credit: K. Morrison

The 2014 UN Omnibus Resolution on Oceans and Law of the Sea included a reference to the efforts of the Sargasso Sea Alliance for the third year in a row, and the Sargasso Sea will also be featured as an ecosystem in the forthcoming World Oceans Assessment.

CMS CoP 12, Quito, Ecuador.   Credit: K. Morrison

The Government of the Principality of Monaco demonstrated remarkable leadership as a Hamilton Declaration Signatory by putting forward a proposal to the Parties to the Convention on Migratory Species to list the European eel 

(Anguilla anguilla) on Appendix II.   This proposal was adopted in November 2014 and the Commission continues to seek to mobilize resources for a "range State" workshop to facilitate discussion of potential conservation actions.

A "Concept Note on the importance of Sargassum and the Sargasso Sea for Atlantic Sea Turtles" 

has been co-published by the Secretariat of the Inter American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles and the Sargasso Sea Commission.  Sea turtles provide a strong example of the connectivity between the Sargasso Sea and other areas in the Caribbean and South America as turtles migrate throughout their life cycle.

East Coast Bay, Antigua, Oct. 2014.  Credit: M. Watkins Gilkes

The Commission has posted a new webpage Tracking Trends in Sargassum Presence to serve as an information clearinghouse for information on Sargassum, with links to direct data and specific experts, and continues to explore the myriad data and information needs related to our initiative. 

Professor Dire Tladi.  Credit: K. Morrison

Professor Dire Tladi has indicated that he will not stand for re-election after his term ends in August 2015. We are extremely grateful to him for taking on this role and look forward to his on-going support for our work.

The 2015 selection process will be initiated on 31 March 2015, per Appendix I, Annex I, Rules of Procedure - Meeting of Signatories of the Hamilton Declaration, Adopted 21 October 2014.  The Commission vacancy and job description will be made publically available at that time, with nominations due from Signatories by 30 April 2015.  Bermuda will then appoint the new Commissioner(s) by 1 August 2015.