International Marine Protected Area: Sargasso Sea

Lord Bishop of Manchester Excerpts

Monday 6th July 2026 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[The Lord Bishop of Manchester]

To ask His Majesty’s Government whether they intend to support the establishment of an international marine protected area in the Sargasso Sea under the Global Ocean Treaty.

[The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Baroness Chapman of Darlington) (Lab)]

My Lords, the UK recognises the global importance of conserving the Sargasso Sea and has long worked with the Government of Bermuda on science-led conservation, including with the Sargasso Sea Commission. Together, we have been spearheading the Hamilton II Declaration, a political initiative that allows the UK and its co-signatories to signal support for the development of a collective proposal under the BBNJ agreement for area-based management tools, which would be used to protect this environmentally significant area.

[The Lord Bishop of Manchester]

I thank the Minster for her Answer; I am comforted by it. It is well documented that networks of ecologically connected MPAs deliver greater conservation benefits. Will the Government commit to working alongside other Atlantic countries to advocate at upcoming international fora for a network of Atlantic MPAs?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

I will have to take the right reverend Prelate’s word that that is the case. That certainly makes sense to me. As signatories to the agreement, we would hope to work with our partners, wherever they may be, to bring the benefits of this treaty as widely as possible.