News from the Atlantic Guardians Project and Tristan's MPZ
Atlantic Guardians NewsletterAs the Atlantic Guardians projects draws to a close, it has issued its August 2025 issue of its Newsletter with the following contents:
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Atlantic Guardians Newsletter, More information on the |
Tristan's Marine Protected Zone on the BBC
Writer Nick Schönfeld and photographer Julia Gunther recently spent ten months on Tristan and undertook a number of projects of a documentary nature. They talked about their work at the 2025 Tristan da Cunha Association Annual Gathering.
The latest product of their visit is a long and excellent article on Tristan's lobster fishing industry and the MPZ published by BBC Earth, entitled "Tristan da Cunha: The lobsters keeping Earth's remotest town afloat".
An illustration from the article of Fisheries staff setting equipment to monitor lobster stocks. Photo: Julia Gunther
The article, written by Nick and illustrated with photographs taken by Julia, goes through what happens during a typical Tristan fishing day, and highlights the importance of the lobster fishery to the island's economy and lifestyle. It is interwoven with snippets about what it is like living on Tristan, much of which will be recognisable to friends of Tristan, but some things will be unfamiliar and maybe even surprising.
There is a good summary of the measures being taken to preserve the fishery. Past problems with overfishing have been successfully overcome with regulation, effective monitoring of stocks, and strict conservation quotas. Nick also discusses Tristan's Marine Protected Zone (MPZ), and the challenges of policing it.
There are, of course, threats such as climate change and illegal industrial fishing. And then there are risks of environmental shocks that could affect the fishery, for example the Oliva shipwreck and the invasive species brought by the washed-up oil platform PXXI. The recently established ATBA (Areas to be Avoided) will help, but nothing is foolproof.
Nick and Julia are returning to Tristan on the 2025 Agulhas II voyage, and we can expect more to come.
Young Ocean Champions in the UK |
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| Young Tristanians are undertaking intense conservation-related training across England during summer 2024. 10-Jun-2024 |
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Tristan da Cunha achieves Blue Park Award
Tristan da Cunha earns prestigious Blue Park Award for Outstanding Conservation Value
at a Marine Conservation Institute Our Ocean Conference held in Athens, Greece on 17th April 2024
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Dr. Lance Morgan, President of Marine Conservation Institute, announced the 2024 Blue Park Awards at an event co-hosted by Marine Conservation Institute and the Bloomberg Ocean Fund. The event highlighted contributions toward the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework's target to protect 30% of marine and coastal areas by 2030, showcasing the Blue Park Award winners as outstanding examples of effective biodiversity conservation in Marine Protection Areas.
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With this award, Tristan da Cunha receives US $8,000 and joins a growing network of 30 awarded Blue Parks around the global ocean that have met the highest science-based standards for conservation effectiveness. "Our long-term goal has always been to help ensure that the unique biodiversity of our archipelago is protected," said James Glass, Chief Islander and Tristan da Cunha's Director of Fisheries, "not only for the future of our younger generation, but for the future population of the planet." "On behalf of all the community, we are delighted to receive this Blue Park Award in recognition of Tristan da Cunha's Marine Protection Zone," said Janine Lavarello, Marine Protection Zone Officer of Tristan da Cunha. "It is essential that marine protected areas are designated to help preserve our wonderful wildlife and ecosystems, and we are thrilled that this award recognizes our hard work over the last few years. We are committed to maintaining these high standards to ensure Tristan's waters are protected now, and for future generations." |
| The Blue Park logo that Tristan da Cunha may now use |
Tristan da Cunha, an archipelago in the southern Atlantic Ocean, protects its entire Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) – spanning over 750,000 square kilometres. Encompassing such a vast marine area, the MPA protects highly productive deep ocean areas, kelp forests, and several seamounts that support abundant cold-water corals. It includes migratory pathways for many fish, cetaceans, and seabirds, including endangered northern rockhopper penguins. Tristan da Cunha's extensive no-take zone and minimal human disturbance provide an ideal setting for its temperate marine ecosystems to thrive.
Broadnose sevengill shark - Photo Credit - Rob Mrowicki
"Tristan da Cunha is a small, remote island in the middle of the South Atlantic meaning we're not very well known to the rest of the world, with many people having never heard of us," expressed Janine. "This Blue Park Award will raise the global profile of our Marine Protection Zone and island, giving us a platform to share our approaches to safeguarding our amazing wildlife and managing our Marine Stewardship Council-certified fishery."
Northern rockhopper penguins - Photo Credit - David Kinchin-Smith
Tristan da Cunha's conservation efforts are championed by its local community of approximately 245 year-round residents. The MPZ (Tristan uses the term Marine Protection Zone) is managed by the Tristan da Cunha Government, and many partner organizations have contributed to its success, including the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Blue Nature Alliance, Pew Charitable Trusts, UK Government Blue Belt Programme, British Antarctic Survey, National Geographic – Pristine Seas, Natural History Museum, University of Plymouth, Darwin Initiative, Wyss Foundation, Becht Family Charitable Trust, Don Quixote II Foundation, and Blue Marine Foundation, among others.
Subantarctic fur seal - Photo Credit - National Geographic Society (Pristine Seas)
The Blue Park Awards are supported by Blue, the Blue Endowment Fund. The Blue Park Award recognizes outstanding efforts by national governments, nonprofit organizations, MPA managers, and local communities to effectively protect marine ecosystems now and for the future. The award has been given annually since its launch in 2017. The 2024 Blue Parks join the Blue Parks Network, made up of some of the world's most outstanding marine protected areas and ocean champions.
"We are thrilled to recognize the hard work of the Tristanians and their partners who are protecting the vibrant ocean around Tristan da Cunha," said Director of the Blue Parks Program, Dr. Sarah Hameed. "The Blue Parks offer examples of conservation success that inspire us all to accelerate efforts to safeguard life in the sea."
More information about the award is available on the Marine Conservation Institute website.
2023-2024 Flax Removal from Inaccessible Island |
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| Work to eliminate invasive plant from World Heritage Site 5-Apr-2024 |
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Tristan Starchy Survey uncovers mountain Sagina spread |
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| Population and distribution of Tristan Thrush investigated. 13-Mar-2024 |
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Visit of the Yacht SV Urchin |
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| The SV Urchin was chartered to transport conservationists from Cape Town to Inaccessible Island, arriving 7th December 2023. 8-Dec-2023 |
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DEFRA meeting highlights Tristan's conservation matters |
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| Minister updated on island's wide conservation agenda 20-Sep-2023 |
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- St Mary's School Celebrates World Ocean Day 2023 (18-Jun-2023) >>
- Tristan flag flies at Red Ensign Group gathering (1-Jun-2023) >>
- Tristan Conservation in focus during JMC week (14-May-2023) >>
- Two pilot whales beached on Tristan (25-Oct-2022) >>
- Tristan's Atlantic Guardians Project Report (11-Aug-2022) >>
- Tristan represented at UN Ocean Conference (5-Aug-2022) >>
- Atlantic Guardians Talk to Islanders (17-Jun-2022) >>
- World Ocean Day 2022 at St Mary's School (11-Jun-2022) >>
- James Glass gives key presentation at oceans event in London (10-Jun-2022) >>
- MPZ Event at the House of Commons (25-May-2022) >>
- Great Egret sighted on Tristan (27-Apr-2022) >>
- Tristan training after flax removal project (12-Apr-2022) >>