The Bahamas is the latest signatory of the Hamilton Declaration on Collaboration for the Conservation of the Sargasso Sea.

The Declaration is a political commitment by the signatories to work with the Government of Bermuda and the Sargasso Sea Commission to conserve the Sargasso Sea — the huge, iconic high seas ecosystem in the North Atlantic sub-tropical gyre, explained a Government statement.

Bahamas MP Frederick Mitchell, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, signed the Declaration at The Bahamas Mission to the United Nations in New York City today.

Cole Simons, Bermuda’s Minister of the Environment, said: “I am delighted to have The Bahamas join our Sargasso Sea family. I am committed to increasing still further the number of signatories to the Hamilton Declaration so the range and impact of this important and ground breaking initiative can increase.”

The Hamilton Declaration, as the name implies, was originally signed in Bermuda in March 2014 by five governments — The Azores, Bermuda, Monaco, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The British Virgin Islands signed in January 2016. The Bahamas is the seventh signatory.

“This unique ecosystem — nearly 5 million square kilometres in area — is based on species of seaweed, Sargassum,” added the statement.

“The Sargassum mats and windrows act as a major spawning and nursery area for threatened and endangered species, including sea turtles and billfish, as well as for important commercial species of tuna, wahoo and dolphinfish. It is the only place in the world where the European eel and the American eel spawn. They then migrate 3,000 miles back to the continents of Europe and North America.

“The Hamilton Declaration mandated the Government of Bermuda to establish the Sargasso Sea Commission to ‘exercise a stewardship role for the Sargasso Sea and keep its health, productivity and resilience under continual review.’

“The Sargasso Sea Commission is appointed by the Government of Bermuda after consultation with the other signatories. It is composed of ‘distinguished scientists and other persons of international repute committed to the conservation of high seas ecosystems that would serve in their personal capacity.’ The Bermudian commissioner is Dr. Tammy Trott.

“The signing was witnessed by the Minister of the Environment, on behalf of the Government of Bermuda.

Dr David Freestone, executive secretary of the Sargasso Sea Commission, said: “The signing of the Hamilton Declaration in 2014 was an historic event in the move towards conservation of the high seas. The impact of the work of the Commission will be greatly enhanced by the active collaboration of our regional partner, The Bahamas.”