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Collecting Samples for BAMZ
Thursday, June 06, 2013

The crew and research team on-board the 72ft Sea Dragon expedition ship are currently undertaking two expeditions from the Island to find out more about the Sargasso Sea.


Our turtles thrill veterinary students from North Carolina
Thursday, April 04, 2013

Bermuda has won high praise from a veterinary science professor who found the Island a perfect laboratory for studying semi-tropical ecology.


Teaching everyone to love toads
Monday, March 11, 2013

Former biology professor Jamie Bacon quickly discovered that not everyone shared her love of toads.


BAMZ roof work may mean releasing some animals into the wild
Friday, March 01, 2013

Some of the Aquarium’s residents will be released into the wild later this year to make way for refurbishments.


BAMZ to get new roof
Thursday, February 28, 2013

Bermuda’s Aquarium is to get a new roof, Environment and Planning Minister Richards announced.



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BASS works to raise awareness to save Sargasso Sea
Bermuda Sun
Friday, June 08, 2012

Sarah Lagan
Writer/Sub-editor

BS_120608_1a.jpg
BASS spokesperson Dr Judith Landsberg.
*Photo by Kageaki Smith

FRIDAY, JUNE 8: Legendary oceanographer Sylvia Earle described the Sargasso Sea as the “golden floating rainforest of the Atlantic Ocean” and now ten local non-governmental and environmental groups have teamed up to raise awareness about its importance.

Through scientific research, education and community outreach, the Bermuda Alliance for Sargasso Sea (BASS) aims to support efforts by the Sargasso Sea Alliance, led by the Bermuda government, to establish the Sargasso Sea as a high-seas marine protected area.

Through the campaign, it will highlight threats such as over-fishing and pollution, oil and bilge.

BASS members include Atlantic Conservation Partnership, Bermuda Institute for Ocean Science (BIOS), Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute (BUEI), Bermuda National Trust, Bermuda Audubon Society, Greenrock, Bermuda Sloop Foundation, the National Museum of Bermuda, Look-Bermuda Education Foundation, and the Bermuda Zoological Society (BZS).

“As a group, we support the Sargasso Sea Alliance’s mission to make this international high seas area one of the first protected marine areas of its kind in the world, and we would like to see Bermuda residents get on board this campaign and voice their support,” says BASS spokesperson Dr Judith Landsberg.

“Our goal is to do all we can — through public education, scientific research and community awareness — to help make saving the Sargasso Sea a reality. We want to tell people as much as we can about this precious natural resource — and why they should care.”

The Sargasso Sea covers nearly five-million square kilometres of ocean and is one of the world’s most productive marine ecosystems. Bounded by the Gulf Stream and other currents that constantly shift its position, it feeds and protects the young, and forms a migratory corridor for many endangered and commercially harvested species.

“Its beauty, richness and value need protecting if we are to continue to benefit from this unique ecosystem,” says Dr Landsberg.

“Bermuda is the lone landmass in the Sargasso Sea and has a long record of marine conservation leadership. As island residents, we need to work together to help protect the Sargasso Sea for the health of our fisheries and marine environment. By doing so, Bermuda will be showing the world how we can protect and restore our marine resources.”

Currently, less than one-half of 1 per cent of the world’s ocean is fully protected, whereas more than 15 times more land has some form of protection.

The announcement of the formation came just ahead of World Ocean’s Day which is being marked today by a public event taking place that the HSBC Harbourview Centre from 5:30pm.

At the event there will be a talk by Chris Flook of the Bermuda Blue Halo Project, a government initiated plan that aims to first create a smaller marine reserve beyond the 50-mile mark of the island and out 200 miles.