Project

UK Overseas Territories

Tristan da Cunha: A remote island protecting the ocean

Located in the Atlantic between South Africa and South America, this UK Overseas Territory is the world’s remotest inhabited island. Yet the small community here has protected an area of ocean three times the size of the UK.

Blue Policy

Marine protection

The challenge

To support a remote community that is hosting a remarkable protected zone, but lacks the opportunity to create revenue streams, such as tourism, that an marine protected area would usually afford. 

Our strategy

As part of an innovative approach led by Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and National Geographic Society, Blue Marine is delighted to work with the Becht Family Charitable Trust to provide key long-term support for the community of Tristan da Cunha.

 

Our impact

  • Supporting the largest zone of marine protection in the Atlantic Ocean, at 687,000 sq km
  • Providing key long-term support for the community
  • Protecting some of the world’s most important breeding sites for seabirds

Work in the field

In 2020, the 250 people that comprise the population of the South Atlantic island committed to fully protecting an immense 687,000 sq km of their territorial waters from fishing and all extractive activities. It is the largest marine protected area in the Atlantic Ocean, covering an expanse nearly three times the size of the UK.  

The exceptional commitment by the islanders is protecting some of the world’s most important breeding sites for seabirds, including the endemic Tristan Albatross, a critically endangered species. It also safeguards penguin colonies, as well as populations of seals, bluefin tuna and blue sharks.

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