Greenpeace Sargasso Sea Advisory Council
The launch of the Greenpeace Sargasso Sea Advisory Council at The Loren Hotel, Bermuda marks a “significant new chapter in the campaign to secure lasting protection for the Sargasso Sea, the unique high seas ecosystem that surrounds Bermuda and supports globally important marine life.”
A spokesperson said, “Convened by Noelle Young as a representative of Greenpeace in Bermuda, the Council brings together community voices in support of a shared vision for stronger protection of the Sargasso Sea and a more formal role for Bermuda in shaping its future stewardship.
“The objective of the Advisory Council is to gain institutional support from the Government of Bermuda, the UK Government, and the United Nations for the establishment of a marine sanctuary throughout the Sargasso Sea in areas beyond national jurisdiction. The Council will work to ensure that such a sanctuary safeguards Bermuda’s natural environment, is grounded in strong community support, and guarantees that Bermuda is formally appointed to any governing body overseeing the marine protected area’s management and stewardship.
“The launch event brought together supporters, partners, scientists, advocates and community members to mark this important milestone and to build on momentum that has grown since Greenpeace’s Arctic Sunrise arrived in Bermuda in May 2024. That visit helped convene scientists, fishers, youth voices, civil society representatives and political stakeholders around a shared goal: advancing protection for the Sargasso Sea under the UN High Seas Treaty.
Chris Thorne – Senior Oceans Campaigner at Greenpeace UK said: “Greenpeace came to Bermuda in 2024 to work alongside Bermudians, to research, to listen, to learn, and to help strengthen a community-led call for the protection of the Sargasso Sea. The visit was about building relationships and supporting local leadership.”
The spokesperson said, “As the only land territory physically connected to the Sargasso Sea, Bermuda occupies a unique place in global ocean stewardship. The Sargasso Sea is one of the most ecologically significant marine regions in the Atlantic, providing habitat and migratory routes for whales, sea turtles, sharks, seabirds and endangered eels, while also holding deep cultural and environmental importance for Bermuda.
“The Advisory Council has been established to help ensure that the sanctuary effectively protects this unique ecosystem, that Bermuda has a formal and permanent role in its governance, and that the voices of the Bermudian community are amplified and institutionalised in global decision-making.”
Noelle Young, who convened the Council on behalf of Greenpeace in Bermuda, said: “The launch of the Sargasso Sea Advisory Council is an important milestone in this campaign rooted in Bermudian stewardship, international collaboration and the urgent need to protect one of the world’s most unique ecosystems.”
Ms. Young added: “The United Nations has been explicit: local communities must be part of this process. Not consulted after the fact. Not thanked for their input and politely set aside. Actually engaged in it long term, at the table, in the room, helping to shaping the decisions.”
She continued: “The UN’s statements aren’t just nice sentiments. They are recognition of something that science, history, and common sense all tell us, that the people who live closest to an ecosystem, have the deepest knowledge of it and must be central to decisions made about how it is governed. Our knowledge and lived experience is not a supplement to the process. It’s essential to it.”
The spokesperson said, “The campaign has grown steadily through research, public engagement, political advocacy and international collaboration. Since 2024, local and international partners have worked to strengthen the case for the Sargasso Sea to become one of the first marine protected areas advanced under the BBNJ Agreement, also known as the High Seas Treaty.
“The launch of the Community Advisory Council reflects a commitment to ensuring that this effort remains both science-led and community-driven. It also reinforces the importance of continued collaboration among Bermuda-based stakeholders, the UK, civil society partners and international allies as global momentum continues to build for stronger protection of the high seas.
“Young also said the Council was formed to ensure the community of Bermuda is involved from the outset of this international process, rather than being left to react after key decisions have already been made beyond its shores.”
She said: “Bermuda has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to claim that seat. To be present at the beginning of this process – not playing catch-up later, not watching from the sidelines as others make decisions about our sea, but standing up from the very beginning and saying: we are here, our voice matters, and the community of Bermuda must be formally represented in any governance body that oversees the Sargasso Sea.”
The spokesperson said, “At this pivotal moment for international ocean governance, the establishment of the local Greenpeace Sargasso Sea Advisory Council signals a clear commitment: to protect the Sargasso, to safeguard Bermuda’s connection to it, and to ensure that Bermudian voices are not only heard, but formally embedded in the decisions that shape its future.
“Looking ahead, the group hopes to expand the Council, make meeting notes publicly available, and create meaningful opportunities for public participation to ensure this process remains transparent, inclusive and grounded in community engagement.”
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Ahh, “Greenpeace.” Might not be around much longer. I wonder if this was discussed:
Headline: Judge says Greenpeace must pay $345 million in pipeline lawsuit, cutting jury amount nearly in half – AP Updated 6:29 PM EDT, October 29, 2025
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A North Dakota judge has ordered Greenpeace to pay damages of $345 million, reducing an earlier jury award after it found the environmental group and related entities liable for defamation and other claims in connection with protests of an oil pipeline nearly a decade ago.
The new amount is roughly half the $667 million that a jury had awarded to the pipeline company that brought the claims, Dallas-based Energy Transfer and subsidiary Dakota Access.
In March, a nine-person jury found Netherlands-based Greenpeace International, Greenpeace USA and funding arm Greenpeace Fund Inc. liable for defamation and other claims brought by Energy Transfer.
The jury found Greenpeace USA liable on all counts, including conspiracy, trespass, nuisance and tortious interference with business relations. The other two entities were found liable for some of the claims.
“The Council will work to ensure that such a sanctuary safeguards Bermuda’s natural environment, is grounded in strong community support, and guarantees that Bermuda is formally appointed to any governing body overseeing the marine protected area’s management and stewardship”
That seems to me that Greenpeace will come into conflict with Greenrock over the offshore windmill farm the Greenrock wants to build