Sargasso Sea Commission

"To encourage and facilitate voluntary collaboration toward the conservation of the Sargasso Sea" The Sea has been called a golden floating rainforest.

The Sargasso Sea is named for the Sargassum seaweed that creates its unique ecosystem. It is a haven of biodiversity and there is growing recognition of the crucial role it plays in the wider North Atlantic ecosystem as habitat, foraging and spawning grounds and as a migratory corridor. Endangered European and American eels migrate to the Sargasso to breed. Wahoo, tuna and other pelagic fish forag

e in and migrate through the Sea, as do a number of whale species, notably sperm whales and humpbacks. The Sargasso Sea supports a range of endemic species and plays a critical role in supporting the life cycle of a number of threatened and endangered species such as the Porbeagle shark, the American and the European eel, as well as billfish, tuna and several species of turtle, migratory birds and cetaceans.The Sargassum mats are home to many endemic species and provide a protective ‘nursery’ for juvenile fish and turtles. There is emerging recognition of the crucial role it plays in the wider ecosystem ranging from the Atlantic to the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. The Sargasso Sea Commission was established pursuant to the Hamilton Declaration on Collaboration for the Conservation of the Sargasso Sea, signed on 11 March 2014, by the governments of the Azores, Bermuda, Monaco, UK and US. The Commission will “encourage and facilitate voluntary collaboration toward the conservation of the Sargasso Sea.” While the Commission has no management authority, it will “exercise a stewardship role for the Sargasso Sea and keep its health, productivity and resilience under continual review.” A more specific initial mandate is listed in Annex II of the Declaration. The Commission is the result of three years of work by the Sargasso Sea Alliance, and operates as a stand-alone legal entity established by Bermudian and US law. Operating in a largely virtual setting, Commissioners will serve in-kind in their personal capacity and will be supported by a small Secretariat based at the IUCN Washington, DC office. Commissioners were appointed by the Government of Bermuda and were selected through a consultation process in Spring 2014 by governments who support the aims of the Hamilton Declaration.

06/09/2026

What's Living in the Sargasso Sea? - The Bermudian Magazine The struggle for life that persists in every organism on earth has prompted the creation of whimsical habitats and ingenious adaptations, which allow for the most efficient conversion of the sun’s energy into energy that can be used by them. From salt marshes that seem too toxic to be habitable, o...

06/09/2026

📣 New publication! Happy World Ocean Day! 🌊 The Sargasso Sea Commission has released its groundbreaking ‘Socio-Ecosystem Diagnostic Analysis’ (SEDA), the first of its kind for this iconic high seas ecosystem.

🔗 Read the full SEDA here - https://www.sargassoseacommission.org/our-work/seda

Edited by David H Vousden, the SEDA is a culmination of 3+ years of work with contributions from over 25 expert scientists.

It was produced under the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) led Common Oceans Programme, funded by the Global Environment Facilitiy and the Fonds français pour l'environnement mondial (FFEM) funded SARGADOM project.

The SEDA will form the basis for negotiation of a Strategic Action Programme for the conservation of the Sargasso Sea, which will be agreed by Sargasso Sea stakeholders including scientific expert Commissioners and representatives of the signatory governments of the Hamilton Declaration.

The finalisation of the SEDA comes as the Governments of Bermuda and the UK are launching a new initiative to strengthen the stewardship of the Sargasso Sea – Hamilton II. This non-binding declaration would provide a mechanism for Signatories to signal political support for developing a collective ABMT proposal under the BBNJ Agreement for the Sargasso Sea.

05/13/2026

The Royal Family Channel 17 likes. "WATCH: King Charles Visits Trunk Island's Living Classroom on Solo Trip to Bermuda"

Photos from Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo supported by Bermuda Zoological Society's post

05/13/2026

This eel was found in Spittal Pond by Peter James in February! It’s no regular Bermuda eel - this is an anguillid or freshwater eel. They make incredible migrations, spawning in the Sargasso Sea but living most of their lives in freshwater environments up rivers in Europe and the Americas.

Sometimes the eels can be found in inshore brackish environments in Bermuda! Check out Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo supported by Bermuda Zoological Society post for more information on how the team there and at BIOS Arizona State University took samples from this eel and returned it to the wild!

The Sargasso Sea Commission has worked for years to strengthen collaboration for the conservation of American and European eels, which are exposed to many threats throughout their life cycle which takes them across ecological and geographic boundaries.

The Commission has hosted several ‘range states’ workshops for both species in order to share data and establish better coordination for their stewardship. The work of the Sargasso Sea Commission recently led to the adoption of a single species action plan for the critically endangered European eel by the parties to the Convention on Migratory Species at their 15th COP.

05/05/2026

The Sargasso Sea: A Sanctuary of the Seas - The Bermudian Magazine The Sargasso Sea is a distinctive region of the Atlantic Ocean, known for its calm waters, floating seaweed, and rich biodiversity.

Researchers track critically endangered European eel

04/27/2026

Walther Herwig III visits St. George's Bermuda! This German-led research ship has just completed its sixth research cruise investigating the life cycle of the critically endangered European eel. The Sargasso Sea is their only spawning area. Data from the cruises has informed the work of the Sargasso Sea Commission to conserve this fascinating fish.

Researchers track critically endangered European eel A German-led team of scientists has completed a sixth round of research in a spawning area of the Sargasso Sea for the critically endangered European eel. Led by Reinhold Hanel, a professor of the Thü...

04/15/2026

Don't miss this FREE lecture on our amazing Sargasso Sea.

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Location

Washington D.C.

Telephone

(202) 518-2071

Website

http://www.sargassoseacommission.org/

Address

1630 Connecticut Avenue NW, Ste 300
Washington D.C., DC
20009

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm