Blue Belt Programme

A promising glimpse into the health of the Ascension coast. Underwater cameras have captured this scenic seascape. A school of yellow goatfish (Mulloidichthys martinicus) glide by in the foreground accompanied by black triggerfish and framed by an abundance of marine life. Yellow goatfish are bottom feeders that utilise their ‘whiskers’ (chemosensory barbels) to rummage through the sediment for prey. When hunting in a group, they work together and each fish will have a specific role – directly attacking prey or blocking prey from escaping by surrounding their exits in coral or rocky substrates. This beautiful and serene clip was provided by the Ascension Island MPA and captured using a #BRUVS as part of the Blue Belt Programme's Global Ocean Wildlife Analysis Network (GOWAN). Learn more about GOWAN and the importance of underwater footage here: https://bit.ly/3WMUV1x

We're thrilled about a recent learning exchange between St Helena Government and Turks and Caicos Islands Government, facilitated by the Blue Belt Programme! Marine enforcement officers from St Helena, Kelly Jonas and Peter Young, visited the Department of Fisheries and Marine Resource Management in Turks and Caicos to observe and share best practices. This exchange is helping to strengthen enforcement strategies and build valuable relationships between both territories. Read our latest blog to hear from Kelly Jonas as she shares the insights she gained from the visit 👉 https://bit.ly/40T5lOd

🚨 Expedition opportunity to the Pitcairn Islands in September 2025 🚨 There are three berths on the MV Silver Supporter available for universities in the UK and New Zealand. The Government of the Pitcairn Islands are also offering three research grants of £10,000 each. With one of the largest and continuous no-take MPAs in the world, the Pitcairn Islands are home to some of the healthiest and diverse subtropical coral atoll. Apply for this expedition to the Pitcairn Islands for the chance to conduct your research in these untouched waters! Applications close on the 28th February 2025. Click the link for more details and how to apply 👉 https://bit.ly/42Irotj

The Pitcairn Island MPA Annual Review 2023-2024 is now available! The report details the brilliant progress the community have made in managing their marine protected area. Highlights include: 📕 Upskilling existing staff and investing in new MPA positions ❌ Combating illegal fishing 🛥️ Conducting scientific expeditions to the outer islands 🚮 Removing 9 tonnes of plastic from Henderson Island 🔬 Hosting international scientists from the RSPB and King's College London at their Marine Science Base The Blue Belt Programme is proud to support the Pitcairn Islands in their tireless efforts to protect the unique marine environment within their MPA. Read the report here: https://bit.ly/3Cz5YnY

Our newsletter is out now and you can read it here: https://bit.ly/4jKqYIU Catch up on the latest from the programme, including: *Ducie Atoll and Henderson Island recognised as Important Shark and Ray Areas *Blue Belt programme represented at Cayman Islands' Parliamentary reception for “Our Global Ocean: The Planet’s Blue Heart” *Working together to combat invasion of non-native species *Sharing the achievements of Pitcairn's MPA with the global marine science community *A risk tool for designing potential marine protected areas Not subscribed? You can do so here: https://bit.ly/4dqck5o

We had the pleasure of joining the Cayman Islands Government Office in the UK at their reception of “Our Global Ocean: The Planet’s Blue Heart” at the Speakers House, in the Palace of Westminster.    The evening was a brilliant opportunity to meet with representatives from the Cayman Islands Government Island Government, UK Government, NGOs and charities to celebrate the achievements of Cayman Islands in protecting their seas.    If you haven't already, watch Our Global Ocean: The Planet’s Blue Heart to discover the significance of healthy oceans, the challenges they are currently facing and the tireless efforts that are working to conserve them.    To learn more about how the Blue Belt Programme and how we’re supporting UK Overseas Territories in protecting their oceans, visit: https://lnkd.in/eB97_Kge

At the end of 2024, we wanted to recognise and celebrate the achievements of UK Overseas Territories for all the work they’ve done this year to enhance the protection and sustainable management of their precious marine environments. Just some of the highlights of the year include: 🦈 Cayman Islands oceanic white-tip sharks spotted during a Baited Remote Underwater Video Systems (BRUVS) survey - part of our Global Ocean Wildlife Analysis Network (GOWAN) programme 👑 Blue Belt Symposium: 170 delegates, including representatives from all UKOTs and a message from His Majesty King Charles III 🐧The second 5-yearly South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands’ (SGSSI) Marine Protected Area (MPA) review confirmed that the MPA is exceptionally well managed with a high level of compliance with protection measures 🪸A landmark workshop on addressing sargassum influxes in the Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI) 🐢Deployment of turtle satellite tags on Ascension 🌊 St Helena’s marine awareness week 🏆Tristan Da Cunha achieved a Blue Park award for their Marine Protection Zone 🧪One year anniversary of Pitcairn’s marine science base 🧑🤝🧑Stakeholder workshops to drive the Marine Spatial Planning process held in Anguilla Thank you to our followers for all your support and best fishes for 2025! 📸UKOT representatives and the Blue Belt Programme team at the symposium in February

We're thrilled that the Pitcairn Islands of Henderson and Ducie have been selected as Important Shark and Ray Areas (#ISRAs) by IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group (SSG). Both the islands are an important home for the endangered grey reef shark, with Ducie also being home to the vulnerable whitetip reef shark. ▶️ See the IUCN's factsheets on the shark species around Henderson and Ducie to discover more! https://lnkd.in/eMsQs_wf They now join a new cohort of 179 sites in the New Zealand and Pacific region identified by the IUCN as critical for shark and ray conservation. Data collected as part of our wider GOWAN programme over 2022-2023 helped to inform the assessment. During this work, 11 species of sharks were recorded and scientists predict more could be found in Pitcairn's waters! Amazing achievement for the Pitcairn Island's Marine Protected Area and local community!

Where does the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) get its name? Hint: It is not because of the colour of its shell… The adult green turtle's diet predominantly consists of seagrass and algae, the pigments of which accumulate in the turtle’s body, resulting in green-coloured fat and cartilage! Chelonia mydas is globally “Endangered” (IUCN Red List of Threatened Species). But on a positive note, the South Atlantic Population (which includes Saint Helena) is classified as “Least Concern”. So, Saint Helena is a pretty good spot for turtles! Fantastic clips provided by the St Helena Government and captured via Blue Abacus #BRUVS as part of the Blue Belt's Global Ocean Wildlife Analysis Network (GOWAN). Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/eAVpscNZ

New research paper! Blue Belt Programme researchers working alongside the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands and local fishers have developed a "Risk Tool" for designing potential marine protected areas. This tool uses historical fishing data to show the current ecosystem impacts of current longline fishing and predict how proposed MPAs will change where people fish and how intensely. Look out for our next blog where we'll be talking with Oli Hogg, one of the scientists leading this work. For now, find the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/e6jH6-RF