Efforts to protect the Sargasso Sea are closer to fruition, according to Environment Minister Walter Roban.He said that members of the Sargasso Sea Alliance (SSA) met at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences last week, to discuss how to go about protecting the region.The SSA is a group of entities dedicated to protecting the mid-Atlantic region.Their meeting followed one Mr Roban had with members of the SSA steering committee where the creation of a management plan for the Sargasso Sea was discussed.“I am confident that we are now one giant step closer in protecting the vast ecosystem that is the Sargasso Sea,” Mr Roban said.A letter of intent was recently signed by Government and Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary in the US northeast. They agreed to work together to monitor and manage the Humpback Whale population, and their Atlantic ecosystem.Said Mr Roban of that agreement: “My hope is that through learning more about the greater regional importance of the Sargasso Sea, in its ecological and socio-economic importance, we can explore other agreements and discussions with other governments and organisations.“I also look forward to the SSA assisting in providing education and outreach to Bermudians, many of whom may not be aware they are residing on the single land mass in this unique and rare marine ecosystem.”Environment permanent secretary Derrick Binns and Department of Environmental Protection director Fredrick Ming are now in London as part of an International Maritime Organization (IMO) event.Dr Ming will speak on the Sargasso Sea.Both Dr Ming and Dr Binns will meet with Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials to promote the protection of the Sargasso Sea to inter-governmental agencies.The Sargasso Sea is a massive area of water surrounding Bermuda and stretching hundreds of miles to the northeast.The region is a vital spawning site for numerous endangered species and a nursery for juvenile turtles and game fish.However, because of the system of sea currents that surround it, the area amasses non-biodegradable plastic waste and oil from land and passing boats.