United Kingdom and Bermuda sign declaration.

HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC – The United Kingdom and Bermuda have signed a declaration bringing together partners from governments, civil society and the scientific community.

According to a joint statement, the inaugural signing of the Hamilton II Declaration comes more than a decade after the Hamilton Declaration. It demonstrates partners’ continued commitment to conserving the Sargasso Sea, reflecting growing international support for collaborative action to protect marine environments.

The Declaration recognizes the Sargasso Sea’s global importance. It is designed to begin the process for States Parties to the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement to adopt legally binding measures to protect it.

With the BBNJ Agreement now in force, and the United Kingdom being a party to it, it provides a global framework for legal protections that did not previously exist. State Parties will meet for the first BBNJ Conference of the Parties in January 2027 in New York, and signing this Declaration today marks the start of the process of gaining their support.

According to the statement, Bermuda and the UK are leading the initiative together. It has involved detailed consultations with states and civil society. The Sargasso Sea Commission, governments, scientists, conservation organizations, and civil society partners have made this possible through leadership, expertise, and commitment that have advanced the protection of the Sargasso Sea for more than a decade.

“Today’s signing is both a celebration of what has been achieved since the original Hamilton Declaration and a commitment to the work that still lies ahead. The Sargasso Sea is one of the world’s great ocean ecosystems, and its conservation depends on the willingness of nations and partners to work together toward a common purpose,” said Jache Adams, the Minister of Public Works and Environment.

“Bermuda is proud that the international effort to protect the Sargasso Sea began here, and we are equally proud to host the inaugural signing of the Hamilton II Declaration. Together with our partners, we are helping to build momentum for stronger global protections and demonstrating the power of collaboration in addressing the challenges facing our ocean.”

UK Minister for Overseas Territories, Uma Kumaran, said the Hamilton II Declaration is a joint endeavor between Bermuda and the United Kingdom, developed through extensive engagement with states and civil society.

It builds on more than a decade of leadership and commitment from the Sargasso Sea Commission, governments, scientists, conservation organizations and civil society partners dedicated to protecting the Sargasso Sea, including its unique biodiversity.

“The initiative has also benefited from Government House Bermuda’s role in fostering dialogue and bringing together the partners whose expertise and collaboration have helped make this possible,” Kumaran said.

Representatives of the Azores, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, Monaco and the Turks and Caicos Islands, as well as over 20 non-government organizations, signed on to the Declaration.