Joint Meetings

Fourth Joint Meeting: Signatories to the Hamilton Declaration and Sargasso Sea Commission (15 March 2019)

The Fourth Joint Meeting of the Sargasso Sea Commission and the Signatories to the Hamilton Declaration on Collaboration for the Conservation of the Sargasso Sea was held on 15 March 2019 in St. George's, Bermuda, on the final day of the Next Steps to Strengthen Stewardship of the Sargasso Sea workshop. The Government of Bermuda and the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences graciously hosted the meeting, which was chaired by Ms. Marva O'Brien, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Legal Affairs. Nine of the ten Signatories to the Hamilton Declaration were in attendance, as well as Commissioners, Secretariat staff, and invited experts.

Third Joint Meeting: Signatories to the Hamilton Declaration and Sargasso Sea Commission (18-19 April 2017)

The Third Joint Meeting of the Sargasso Sea Commission and the Signatories to the Hamilton Declaration on Collaboration for the Conservation of the Sargasso Sea was held from 18-19 April, 2017 in Horta, Azores. The Government of the Azores graciously hosted the meeting, which was co-chaired by Dr. Felipe Porteiro, the Regional Director for Sea Affairs, and the Honourable Cole Simons, Minister of Education for Bermuda. Six of the nine Signatories to the Hamilton Declaration were in attendance, as well as Commissioners, Secretariat staff, and invited experts.

The head table at the Third Joint Meeting.
As of 2017, there are nine Signatories to the Hamilton Declaration, and the Commission intends to increase engagement with these governments, while encouraging other regional states in the North Atlantic basin and those with a direct interest in the conservation of the Sargasso Sea to take part. At this meeting, the Executive Secretary awarded a certificate of appreciation to Senator Wilfred Moore for his efforts to bring Canada on as a Signatory, and to Dr. Felipe Porteiro and his colleagues in the Regional Directorate for Sea Affairs of the Azores for their hospitality, meeting support, and expertise.

Hamilton Declaration Signatory Government Representatives with Secretariat.

Sargasso Sea Commissioners with Secretariat.

The first day of the meeting set the stage with scientific work and collaborative relationships. Participants listened to expert presentations from the University of Edinburgh, the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the Duke Marine Geospatial Ecology Laboratory, and discussed opportunities with the Convention on Migratory Species to advance the Commission’s mission. The Duke University Marine Geospatial Ecology Laboratory presented an overview of several international marine projects including the highly migratory marine species connectivity database they are developing. The University of Edinburgh discussed the ATLAS project that focuses on deep Atlantic ecosystems and their ties to transport, fisheries and offshore oil and gas, and stressors such as climate change. The NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory highlighted the status of the Sargasso Sea COVERAGE project – a three year research and development pilot project designed ultimately to enable the public and users like the Commission to use satellite data for information, management, and research.

The Commission is working with the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) to organize a second Range State meeting to pursue protections under the CMS for the critically endangered European eel and its migratory routes and spawning areas in the Sargasso Sea. The Commission will also continue its engagement with the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).  

The second day of the meeting focused on reviewing the work plan and the status of ongoing projects, including a draft Sargasso Sea Stewardship Agenda that the Commission and Signatories will continue to refine. At the Second Joint Meeting in Key West, Florida, Commissioners Spalding and Causey proposed the development of a stewardship plan to provide Commission direction to the Secretariat and advice to the Signatories. This holistic stewardship proposal is organized under the Work Programme areas, and is currently under internal review by the Commission and Signatories. The Commission ultimately hopes to publish this plan as a pioneering work for ocean governance in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ANBJ). 

Work Programme (2016-2018) (SSC/2017/3/Doc.1)

Second Joint Meeting: Signatories to the Hamilton Declaration and Sargasso Sea Commission (21-22 March 2016) 

The Second Joint Meeting of Hamilton Declaration Signatories and the Sargasso Sea Commission was held 21-22 March 2016 at the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary in Key West, Florida. 

Meeting Minutes (MOS/SSC/2016/2)

Work Programme (2016-2018) (SSC/2016/2/Doc.1)

First Joint Meeting: Signatories to the Hamilton Declaration and Sargasso Sea Commission (22-24 Oct. 2014)

Signatories, Commissioners and Secretariat. (Credit: J. Adams) 

The First Joint Meeting of Hamilton Declaration Signatories and the Sargasso Sea Commission was held from 20-22 October 2014 at the Pocantico Center of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund in Tarrytown, New York.  The group convened just seven months after the signing of the Hamilton Declaration in March 2014. Minister Jeanne Atherden of Bermuda was elected Chair of the Signatories with Filipe Portieiro of the Azores Vice Chair.  Professor Howard Roe was elected Chair of the Sargasso Sea Commission and Dr. Tammy Trott as Vice Chair. 

Meeting Minutes (MOS/SSC/2014/1)

Appendix I- Rules of Procedure for Signatories (MOS/SSC/2014/1/App.I)

Annex I-  Composition of the Sargasso Sea Commission (MOS/SSC/2014/1/App.I/Ann.I)

Appendix II-  Rules of Procedure for Sargasso Sea Commission (MOS/SSC/2014/1/App.II)

Work Programme (2015-2017) (SSC/2014/1/Doc.1)


Minister Jeanne Atherden (Bermuda) Chairs the Meeting of Signatories. (Credit: K. Morrison)Day One discussions included background presentations on the global context of marine conservation, on-the-ground lessons learned from large-scale managed areas, and monitoring and ocean health tools. Guest presenters included:  Prof. Dan Laffoley, IUCN; Dr. Nigella Hillgarth and Dr. Randi Rotjan, Phoenix Islands Protected Area;   Dr. Billy Causey, NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (a Sargasso Sea Commissioner); T. 'Aulani Wilhelm, Big Ocean; Dr. Eric Lindstrom, NASA and Dr. Steven Katona, Ocean Health Index.  Days Two and Three of the meeting focused on the proposed next two years of the Work Programme for the Sargasso Sea Commission.