Commissioners help to monitor the health of unique marine eco-system
The new line-up of the Sargasso Sea Commission. Images supplied
Three new appointments have been made to the Sargasso Sea Commission.
The Commission has a stewardship role in keeping the health, productivity and resilience of the Sargasso Sea under continual review.
The new Commissioners, approved by Cabinet, are Dr Frank Muller-Karger, Dr Ana Colaço and Dr David Johnson
Dr Frank Muller-Karger, a first-time appointment to the Commission, is a Professor in the College of Marine Science at the University of South Florida with a PhD in Marine and Estuarine Sciences.
Dr Ana Colaço is a deep sea ecologist at the University of the Azores. She is now entering her second three-year term as a Sargasso Sea Commissioner.
And Dr David Johnson, a first-time appointment to the Commission, is a Director of Seascape Consultants Ltd. and the former Executive Secretary of OSPAR – the environmental organization responsible for the Northeast Atlantic.
The Sargasso Sea has a unique ecosystem characterized by floating seaweed, known as sargassum, which serves as habitat and breeding grounds for various marine species, including fish, turtles, and crustaceans. This biodiversity plays a crucial role in the local fishing industry and the diverse marine life supported by the Sargasso sea enhances Bermuda’s appeal as a tourist destination.
The Bermuda Government has led the Sargasso Sea initiative since 2010 and was one of the original signatories to the Hamilton Declaration on Collaboration for the Conservation of the Sargasso Sea, which celebrated its 10th anniversary earlier this year.
Commissioners working in their independent capacities collaborate with ten Signatory governments of the Hamilton Declaration.
