The team charged with devising a plan to conserve Bermuda’s waters while developing a blue economy is seeking further feedback from the public.

The Bermuda Ocean Prosperity Programme said there were further opportunities for stakeholders to “make their voices heard“ after the consultation period was extended until the end of this month.

The Draft Blue Prosperity Plan, unveiled in August, recommends that 20 per cent of the island’s waters to be deemed “fully protected” no-go zones.

But the proposal has angered fishermen who claimed that it was hatched behind closed doors, with no input from those who make their living from the sea.

Today a spokesman for BOPP said: “Multiple opportunities to speak and provide feedback to the BOPP team are being created and continued across the island.

“BOPP team members recently hosted two pop-up events at the Bermuda National Library and in front of City Hall to talk with interested individuals and gather input on their priorities for Bermuda’s ocean. More community-centred pop-up events are planned this month.

“Targeted stakeholder outreach to specific groups of ocean users through the BOPP Ocean Village is ongoing, along with the addition of one-on-one consultations with members of the commercial fishing community.“

Sarah Brooks, BOPP’s marine spatial planning specialist, added: “We’ve been encouraged by our engagement with the community to date.

“We want to include the voices of every Bermuda resident and ocean stakeholder in this process to make sure the Blue Prosperity Plan is reflective of every person that depends on the ocean.”

BOPP will continue to welcome feedback on plan through the Bermuda Citizen’s Forum until December 31.

To learn more about the Draft Blue Prosperity Plan, click here.