The Hamilton Declaration

On March 11, 2014, governments came together in Bermuda to sign the Hamilton Declaration on Collaboration for the Conservation of the Sargasso Sea (Hamilton Declaration). The Hamilton Declaration is the result of a two-year negotiation between interested governments that are either located in the broader Sargasso Sea area or have an interest in high seas conservation. The Hamilton Declaration was initially signed by the governments of the Azores, Bermuda, Monaco, UK and US, who were later joined by the British Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, Canada, the Cayman Islands, and most recently the Dominican Republic. Other interested governments are anticipated to sign the Declaration over time.  

The text of the Hamilton Declaration is also available in both Spanish  and Portuguese.

 

 

 

Key Points 

The Hamilton Declaration is a non-binding political statement. The Signatories agree to hold a regular Meeting of Signatories and endorse the establishment of a Sargasso Sea Commission to encourage and facilitate voluntary collaboration toward the conservation of the Sargasso Sea.

The Sargasso Sea Commission was established pursuant to the Hamilton Declaration. The Commission will “encourage and facilitate voluntary collaboration toward the conservation of the Sargasso Sea.”  While the Commission has no management authority, it will “exercise a stewardship role for the Sargasso Sea and keep its health, productivity and resilience under continual review.”  A more specific initial mandate is listed in Annex II of the Declaration.  

The Sargasso Sea Commission has no management authority (see Annex II).  It will exercise a stewardship role for the Sargasso Sea and keep its health, productivity and resilience under continual review. Management authority over the EEZ around Bermuda remains exclusively under the control of Bermuda, while management of activities in areas beyond national jurisdiction remains with the existing international and regional sectoral organizations such as the International Maritime Organization for shipping activities, and the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas and the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization for fishing activities.  

The description of the "Area of Collaboration"  in the Hamilton Declaration in Annex I is a description of the Sargasso Sea ecosystem, excluding the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and Territorial Sea around Bermuda. It should be clear that the management of activities and resources in the EEZ and Territorial Sea around Bermuda will not be affected in any way by the Declaration. 

The Sargasso Sea Commission is envisaged to meet virtually, and with the support of a small Secretariat staff, to enable the group to function in the most cost-effective way.

2018 Update: The Dominican Republic Joins the Hamilton Declaration.

 

On 6 April, the Dominican Republic became the tenth Signatory to the Hamilton Declaration. Francisco Dominguez Brito, who serves as the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, signed the Hamilton Declaration on behalf of his government. 

2017 Update: The Cayman Islands Joins the Hamilton Declaration.

On 3 January, the Cayman Islands became the ninth Signatory to the Hamilton Declaration. D. Kurt Tibbetts, who serves as the Minister of Planning, Lands, Agriculture, Housing, and Infrastructure, signed the Hamilton Declaration on behalf of his government.

 

2016 Update: The British Virgin Islands, The Bahamas and Canada Join the Hamilton Declaration.

 
On 29 January 2016, the Government of the British Virgin Islands joined the original five signatories of the international agreement to collaborate on the conservation of the Sargasso Sea. 

On 27 September 2016, The Bahamas became the seventh government to sign the Hamilton Declaration. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of The Bahamas Fred Mitchell joined the Environment Minister of Bermuda Cole Simons at Bahamas House in New York following The Bahamas signing ceremony.

On 3 December, Canada became the eighth signatory to the Hamilton Declaration. The Honorable Dominic LeBlanc, Canadian Minister for Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, signed the Hamilton Declaration in Cancun, Mexico in the presence of the Honorable Cole Simons, Bermuda Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.