| Happy Oceans Month! The Arctic Sunrise dropped anchor in Bermuda recently, after an exhilarating transit from the Galápagos Islands – the Protect the Oceans global campaign tracked sharks, surveyed seabirds, weathered storms, and entered the Bermuda Triangle, where we worried we might get lost. Just kidding! While mysteriously disappearing ships and planes are the stuff of legend, the real threats are to the marine life that depend on this part of the North Atlantic for survival. The part we want protected as an ocean sanctuary under the Global Ocean Treaty: the Sargasso Sea. 
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| The Sargasso Sea is a unique ecosystem, characterized by its lack of land borders: its edges are defined by ever-changing ocean currents, creating a relatively still, warm sea teeming with all sorts of life. Not least, Sargassum seaweed – from which the region gets its name – which in large quantities can act as a nursery to baby sea creatures, like loggerhead turtles, numerous species of crab, fish and shrimp. Its fantastic yellow color means it's sometimes referred to as the 'golden floating rainforest'. The area also serves as a vital highway for migrating whale species. While here, the team has been documenting 'mats' (large floating masses) of Sargassum, to see what species are living in it, and, sadly, how much plastic waste has ended up here. Over 300 pieces of plastic were collected in just 30 minutes, and we pulled out abandoned fishing gear (known as 'ghost gear'), with one net measuring over 328 feet in length – truly dangerous for all the wonderful species that call this region home. If the Sargasso Sea were properly protected under the Global Ocean Treaty, it would better safeguard the area against overfishing, pollution and shipping traffic, enabling species found here to thrive. And, what's more, protecting the Sargasso could be the key to unlocking greater ocean protections all around the world. 
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| Send a message to your Senator now urging them to support the ratification of the Global Oceans Treaty. The Arctic Sunrise has been assisting local scientists and conservationists with eDNA testing, which involves taking seawater samples to track migration patterns. The team has also been listening for whales and dolphins using a special underwater microphone called a hydrophone. Two conservationists onboard recorded more than ten species of seabirds, including some frequent visitors to the UK such as Manx and Great Shearwaters, Leach's Petrels and Arctic Skuas. Together, we've campaigned for a Global Ocean Treaty and the ocean sanctuaries it can help create. The Sargasso Sea could be the very first one, but governments must first write the Treaty into their national laws. The Treaty can only come to life once at least 60 governments have ratified it. Tell your Senator to ratify the Global Oceans Treaty now! For our oceans,
Arlo Hemphill, Protect the Oceans Project Lead
Greenpeace USA
PS - Watch this video to learn more about The Bermuda Triangle! |
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