The Sargasso Sea is a two-million square mile open ocean ecosystem, bounded by the circulating currents of the North Atlantic Gyre. The foundation of this incredible pelagic ecosystem is the floating, golden Sargassum seaweed for which the sea is named.
Sargasso Sea Commission Area of Collaboration as set out in the Hamilton Declaration, created by Duke MGEL
As well as supporting ten fascinating endemic species, Sargassum acts as critical nursery habitat for many species of pelagic fish and several species of sea turtle. The Sargasso Sea is the only known spawning area for two species of endangered anguillid eel – which transition from marine breeding grounds to freshwater feeding grounds. It also acts as a migratory corridor for several species of sharks, rays, and cetaceans.
The Sargasso Sea is threatened by various pressures – including impacts from shipping, fishing, plastic and other pollutants, and climate change. For over a decade, the Sargasso Sea initiative - led by the government of Bermuda - has acted as the Steward of the Sargasso Sea, an iconic high seas ecosystem, and worked to keep its health, productivity, and resilience under review, as well as to develop safeguard measures for its conservation.
The Sargasso Sea Commission was established in 2014 by the signing of the Hamilton Declaration on Collaboration for the Conservation of the Sargasso Sea. It is a unique institution as Commissioners are appointed primarily according to their scientific and technical expertise, and serve in their personal capacity rather than being representatives of the Signatory Governments. The Commission is appointed by the Government of Bermuda with the support of the ten Government Signatories of the Hamilton Declaration – the Azores, the Bahamas, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, the Principality of Monaco, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Learn more about the Sargasso Sea with our Storymap
This interactive storymap is based on the text of our 2011 Science Case.
Learn even more about the Sargasso Sea by downloading our 2011 Science Case
Learn more about Our Work
The Sargasso Sea Commission is currently implementing two separate but complementary projects: the SARGADOM project, funded by the French Facility for Global Environment, and the Sargasso Sea Project, funded by Global Environment Facility. These projects will enable the Commission to undertake the first ecosystem diagnostic analysis of a high seas system, and work with stakeholders to create a plan for the conservation and stewardship of the Sargasso Sea going forward. The Sargasso Sea Commission has been described as a new paradigm for high seas governance.
