Minister of Public Works and Environment, the Hon. Jache Adams, returned from the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice, France, last week, where he led a high-level delegation that reaffirmed the Island's commitment to ocean sustainability and international collaboration.

The Minister was joined by Dr. Tammy Warren, who attended as a Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) representative.

During the conference, the Minister held bilateral meetings with international counterparts, participated in strategic roundtables, and underscored Bermuda's marine conservation efforts, including the anticipated Marine Development Act.

"This conference was not just about attendance, it was about presence and purpose," Minister Adams stated.

"Bermuda is a small island, but we sit in a vast ocean that matters to the world. Our voice must be heard when global policies are being shaped. I was proud to speak for Bermuda and emphasise that our ocean is our future."

One of the conference highlights for the Bermuda delegation was a high-level engagement with officials from the Azores, who recently created Europe's largest Marine Protected Area network. The discussions focused on shared challenges and best practices in ocean governance.

"It is remarkable how connected our islands are, geographically and in ambition," Minister Adams noted. "The Azores and Bermuda are charting similar paths in marine protection, and collaboration is essential.

"We are building bridges across the Atlantic that can serve our marine economies and ecosystems for years to come."

Leading nations worldwide have pledged to protect 30 per cent of the world's oceans by 2030, a global goal known as "30x30".

The aim is to establish a connected network of marine protected areas that will help safeguard ocean health, support biodiversity, and strengthen resilience against the impacts of climate change.

Bermuda's participation at UNOC bolsters ongoing efforts to formalise the Marine Development Act, which will provide the legislative framework to support the Island’s ocean conservation efforts, including an Ocean Fund.

“The Government is advancing a comprehensive ocean strategy that integrates science, and stakeholder voices," Minister Adams added.

The Bermuda delegation also participated in sessions examining ocean accounting, sustainable fisheries , mobilising finance for ocean conservation, preventing and reducing marine pollution, and the high seas treaty.

The conference also provided a platform for the Sargasso Sea Commission (SSC), which participated as part of its ongoing efforts to promote the conservation of the Sargasso Sea, a unique marine ecosystem surrounding Bermuda. Fae Sapsford, a Marine Research Fellow at the SSC, attended as part of the Commission's delegation.

"It was a really key time for the Commission at UNOC because of the recent adoption of the BBNJ agreement -- a new treaty under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea focusing on the conservation and sustainable use of the high seas,” said Ms Sapsford.

“The Commission is in the unique position of having collaborated under a voluntary structure to conserve the Sargasso Sea for over a decade. Now we have this new agreement that brings exciting opportunities for internationally legally binding protection of high seas areas.

“We were able to share lessons learned from the Sargasso Sea project at UNOC, which we hope will support the swift and effective implementation of the BBNJ agreement when it comes into force." 

Ms Sapsford, whose work focuses on communications and international law, added that the SSC was delighted to coordinate with the Government of Bermuda at the conference.

Minister Adams closed his visit with a commitment to ensure that Bermuda remains a visible and active leader in the global marine space.  

“When decisions are being made about the future of our ocean, Bermuda will not be absent. We will be present, engaged, and leading from the front," he concluded.