Blue Belt Annual Report 2021
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2020/21 Blue Belt Programme Annual Update for Financial Year 2020/21 Contents 4 Introduction 6 Ascension Island 8 St Helena 10 Tristan da Cunha 12 Summary of all Activity 2020/21 14 British Indian Ocean Territory 16 Pitcairn Islands 18 South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands 20 British Antarctic Territory 21 Cross-territory 23 Future Ambition The Blue Belt Programme is Ascension Pitcairn Island an ambitious UK Government Islands commitment to enhance protection and management St Helena across more than 4 million square Tristan da Cunha British Indian kilometres of ocean around Ocean Territory British Antarctic South Georgia & the the UK Overseas Territories. Territory South Sandwich Islands Image credit for front cover and page 2: Luke Hosty, Protect Blue. 2 Blue Belt Programme – Annual Update for Financial Year 2020/21 Contents 3 Introduction “The flagship Blue Belt initiative has exceeded its target of establishing over 4 million square kilometres of protected and managed oceans across The Blue Belt Programme supports protection of the marine environments the UK Overseas Territories. We are excited to build on this around the UK Overseas Territories of Ascension Island, St Helena and landmark year, working to Tristan da Cunha (classed as one territory but each ecologically unique), strengthen the protection of British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, Pitcairn Islands these marine environments and South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands. for future generations. This year the Overseas These territories are home to been approved for Ascension Island’s Territories, supported by some of the most biologically Marine Protected Area (MPA) and the Blue Belt Programme, valuable and unique life on innovative drone technology has been Earth, from the butterfly fish of developed to tackle illegal, unreported and have established new marine St Helena to the vast penguin unregulated fishing activity. management plans, harnessed colonies of South Georgia & the the latest technology to South Sandwich Islands. The Blue Belt Programme continues tackle illegal, unreported to support UK Overseas Territory and unregulated fishing, The Blue Belt Programme is the largest Governments and local communities and put in place legislation marine conservation programme of its kind across the territories who are at the heart in the world. It is driven by United Nations of the ongoing work and future ambition. to strengthen governance. (UN) Sustainable Development Goals and the Convention on Biological Diversity, and In 2020, the Blue Belt Programme was The Overseas Territories underpins the 25 Year Environment Plan funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth are acutely aware of, and and global ambition for 30% of the world’s and Development Office (FCDO) and the impacted by, the ocean oceans to be protected by 2030. It is Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The programme challenges we face on a central to the UK Government’s ambition of global scale – from climate leading global action against illegal fishing, is supported by delivery partners – the climate change and biodiversity loss. Centre for Environment, Fisheries and change to overfishing. Aquaculture Science (Cefas) and the Programmes such as the Since 2016, the Blue Belt Programme Marine Management Organisation (MMO) Blue Belt show what can be has supported the UK Overseas on behalf of the UK Government. achieved through coordinated Territories to enhance the protection action, and I am calling on and management of their marine These organisations provide knowledge environments and resources. and expertise in the fields of applied the international community marine science, management, technology, to work with the UK Government During 2020–2021, significant and enforcement; and work with to protect 30% of the world’s developments across the programme other UK Government bodies and oceans by 2030.” have continued despite the COVID-19 non-governmental organisations to pandemic. Tristan da Cunha made global ensure the Overseas Territories receive Lord Goldsmith, the best support available. news by designating the largest Marine Minister for Pacific Protection Zone (MPZ) in the Atlantic, and the Environment a new marine management plan has 4 Introduction Introduction 5 Ascension Island Ascension Island sits within the South Atlantic and is home to globally Work has been ongoing to support important marine life, including green turtles and large predators. sustainable fisheries management around Ascension Island. In 2019, the Ascension Island Council designated one of the largest MPAs The programme has continued to assist in the world which covers their entire Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) The Blue Belt Programme provided with the compliance and enforcement of over 440,000 square kilometres. advice on the development of data of Ascension Island’s MPA. collection programmes needed to undertake stock assessments of Trials of NovaSAR satellite data are exploited fish and shellfish species, Building on the designation of their MPA, ongoing. If successful, this will help which include the rock hind, squirrel fish the Ascension Island Government, the to monitor possible illegal fishing and the spiny lobster. The information Island Council and the Fisheries and activity and improve surveillance collected will ensure these species are Conservation Department have led the coverage of Ascension’s MPA and fished sustainably. development and implementation of new the vulnerable marine ecosystems surrounding its seamounts. management and monitoring strategies. The impact of climate change on the These plans are designed to conserve distribution of commercially important The Blue Belt Programme also helped precious marine life and sustainably tuna in the waters of Ascension Island support the introduction of the latest manage ongoing human activities like was modelled, (this work was also technology and techniques to better fishing and ecotourism. conducted for Tristan da Cunha and understand and protect the rich St Helena) helping to build knowledge The work resulted in the production biodiversity within the MPA. Green turtle hatchling, Ascension Island of local fish stocks. and publishing of the Ascension Island The Ascension Island Fisheries and MPA management plan and associated Conservation Department intends documents, which were approved in to establish a network of 12 inshore February 2021. monitoring stations. This monitoring The Blue Belt Programme supported “We Ascension Islanders believe network will include the deployment of a the Ascension Island Government with strongly in sustainable fishing. suite of seawater loggers to record water temperature, salinity and conductivity. advice and acted as a robust ‘sounding- Our hope is to set standards to board’ on the MPA management plan, others to prove that marine life The data collected will inform the research and monitoring plan and can live in harmony with their creation of ecosystem-based models financial plan. human neighbours and be fished that can assess the condition of key responsibly to ensure that our The programme funded a number of marine habitats and species, as well as fish stocks are around for future key roles and staff within the Ascension environmental variables associated with generations to come and enjoy.” Island Fisheries and Conservation the effects of climate change. The Blue Belt Programme funded equipment for Department, to support with the Squirrel fish, Ascension Island Ascension Island Council management and implementation the stations and will provide ongoing of the MPA. support with the project’s delivery. 6 Ascension Island Ascension Island 7 St Helena Understanding and protecting the Plans have been developed for a biodiversity around St Helena has Remote Electronic Monitoring trial also been central to the Blue Belt for the offshore pole and line fishery. Programme’s work. This complimentary tool will use St Helena is an oceanic island located in the tropical South Atlantic. cameras and GPS technology to collect The island’s first inshore habitat maps The island’s sustainable use MPA, established in 2016, encompasses data on a fishing vessel’s activity. The were developed using various data types. These describe the nature of the seabed its entire EEZ – over 440,000 square kilometres. St Helena’s waters plan has been designed to improve management effectiveness. substrate and can be used to identify support a range of marine life including endemic and migratory areas important for key marine species. species such as butterfly fish and whale sharks. The programme continued to fund a number of roles for St Helena to help To better understand ocean currents implement new policies and build local around St Helena, the programme and This year the Blue Belt Programme capability. These include a Marine British Antarctic Survey developed continued its supportive role working Enforcement Officer, Marine Data oceanographic models to determine with the St Helena Government. Apprentice, Blue Belt Coordinator regional ocean circulation. These will and Fisheries Officer. help inform future wastewater and The programme assisted in the fisheries management strategies. development of new policies for marine tourism and marine development A new laboratory was funded to enable activities within St Helena’s MPA. These safe and effective marine science policies will support the sustainable studies and monitoring on St Helena. and responsible use of the MPA. Opening in 2021, the lab will include