- 11
- 03
- 2026
- Category:
- Service & Advocacy
12th Anniversary: Hamilton Declaration for Protection of the Sargasso Sea Pioneering High Seas Initiative
by David E. Shaw
As founding chair of the Sargasso Sea Alliance, it’s an honor to mark today’s 12th anniversary of the Hamilton Declaration for Protection of the Sargasso Sea by offering a tribute to the nations, colleagues and collaborators who helped bring this historic initiative to life. I am especially grateful to my friend and dive buddy Dr. Syvia Earle, who co-chaired our Steering Committee, to other committee members whose leadership shaped our effort, and to the Government of Bermuda for it’s lead role in this pioneering initiative.
From the outset, our goal was twofold. First, to strengthen stewardship of the Sargasso Sea, a remarkable ecosystem spanning more than two million square miles in the North Atlantic. Second, to establish a precedent for responsible governance of the global ocean commons — areas beyond national jurisdiction. These “high seas” account for more than half of the world’s oceans and represent the largest habitat for life on Earth. Their stewardship is therefore not only an environmental priority, but a shared responsibility for humanity.
In recognition of this anniversary, I am pleased to share a short film I created to highlight the ecological importance of the Sargasso Sea, along with an AAAS Science Diplomacy article describing the initiative, and early coverage following the ratification of the Hamilton Declaration.
The Hamilton Declaration helped demonstrate that even in the vastness of the open ocean, committed individuals and nations can come together to make waves for stewardship that benefit the world.
While the greatest reward has been the progress achieved, we were honored that the initiative received public recognition, including our induction as International SeaKeepers of the Year in 2013.
In the years since, those early waves have continued to spread across the global ocean policy landscape, contributing to momentum for greatly expanded ocean stewardship including the historic United Nations High Seas Treaty ratified in 2025.
