Project Ocean, a long-term partnership between Selfridges and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), launched with a mission to protect the ocean from overfishing and plastic pollution, whilst taking marine conservation issues to brand new audiences.

Established by Project Ocean, the Marine Reserves Coalition (MRC) launched on World Oceans Day. Comprised of six leading marine environmental organisations – Blue Marine Foundation, ClientEarth, Greenpeace-UK, Marine Conservation Society (MCS), Pew Environment Group (PEG), and ZSL.

The MRC called on the UK Government to fully protect at least 30% of seas under UK jurisdiction in a network of effectively managed marine reserves (no-take areas closed to all extractive and potentially damaging activities).

With support from an Oceans5 grant to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), MRC transitioned into a new coalition – Great British Oceans (GBO).

Formed by six UK-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs) – Blue Marine Foundation, Greenpeace-UK, MCS, The Pew Trusts, RSPB, and ZSL – GBO was formed to use its collective voice to raise awareness of the opportunity for large fully-protected and locally-supported Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) throughout the OTs.

GBO supported a visit by Dr Sylvia Earle, renowned oceanographer, to Ascension Island to meet with the community and discuss marine protection possibilities.

Upon her return a marine conservation reception with Sir Oliver Letwin MP was held at the Palace of Westminster to raise awareness amongst Parliamentarians.

GBO successfully instigated a ‘blue’ call to action, with the result that four party manifestos made large-scale marine commitments to the OTs.

The Conservative Party’s winning election manifesto contained a pledge to create “a Blue Belt around the U.K.’s 14 Overseas Territories, subject to local support and environmental need.”

GBO won four PEA (People Environment Achievement) awards. As well as winning all categories entered – Nature, NGO and Team – GBO also took home the prize for Overall Champion 2015.

The coalition was instrumental in shaping the UK Government’s Blue Belt policy objectives, principle sites and funding.

GBO was a recipient of a John Ellerman Foundation (JEF) grant.

During the Our Ocean Summit in Washington D.C., Foreign Office Minister Sir Alan Duncan announced the UK Government’s commitment to protect 4 million km² of marine environment across the OTs, pledging £20 million from 2016-2020 to support the implementation, management, surveillance and enforcement of these MPAs.

The proclamation included a vow to work with local communities to designate MPAs around Ascension Island by 2019 and Tristan da Cunha by 2020, as well as the designation of protected areas around the Pitcairn Islands and St. Helena

The UK and Pitcairn Governments designated an MPA around the Pitcairn Islands, prohibiting fishing across 830,000 km² of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and permitting sustainable local fishing in the waters surrounding the Islands.

The Government of St. Helena designated its entire 445,000 km² EEZ as a sustainable use International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Category VI MPA.

The UK Government’s Blue Belt Programme, delivered in partnership between the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) and the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), was established to support OTs with the protection and sustainable management of their marine environments.

Seven OTs were incorporated in the Blue Belt: Ascension Island, British Antarctic Territory (BAT), British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), Pitcairn Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI), St. Helena, and Tristan da Cunha.

The Blue Belt Programme was financed by nearly £20 million of funding from the UK’s Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF).
The funding supported scientific research, capacity building in OT’s and monitoring and enforcement of Blue Belt sites using satellite technology.

Once again, cross-party manifestos made marine pledges to the OTs.
The Conservative Party manifesto stated that the government “…will work with our Overseas Territory governments to create a Blue Belt of marine protection in their precious waters, establishing the largest marine sanctuaries anywhere in the world.”

GBO’s Blue Belt Charter, calling on the UK Government to deliver on its ambitious Blue Belt policy commitments, was published.
Over 280 MPs from eight political parties pledged their support and agreed to #BackTheBlueBelt.

GBO and the Rt Hon. Richard Benyon MP, with remarks from Foreign Secretary the Rt Hon. Boris Johnson MP, launched ‘Blue Belt 2.0: British Global Leadership in Ocean Conservation 2017-2022’ at the Palace of Westminster.

GBO hosted a Blue Belt Charter reception at the House of Commons, which included a keynote address from Lewis Pugh – United Nations Patron of the Oceans.
Attendees included the Rt Hon. Michael Gove MP, Richard Benyon MP, and Zac Goldsmith MP.

Environment Secretary the Rt Hon. Michael Gove MP instigated the 30by30 initiative, calling for 30% of the world’s ocean to be protected by 2030.

The Government of SGSSI announced that No Take Zones (NTZs), closed to all commercial fishing activity, would be expanded to cover 23% (284,000 km²) of the EEZ, following recommendations arising from the first independent 5-year MPA review.

Following the success of the first charter, GBO published the Blue Belt Charter 2.0. More than 50 prominent international and domestic marine and environmental NGOs, world-leading universities and eminent scientists signed-up to a statement of support.

The report from the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) Sustainable Seas inquiry was published.
A representative was invited to present on behalf of GBO at the inquiry, directly leading to their recommendation that “The Government must, as a matter of urgency, guarantee sustainable levels of funding for the Blue Belt Programme post 2020, to ensure monitoring, management and enforcement of marine protected areas.”

Key OT representatives and stakeholders involved in delivering the UK Government’s flagship marine protection programme attended the Blue Belt Symposium at the University of Exeter’s Cornwall campus. Delegates reflected on the programme’s progress and learned from global best practice. The inaugural Marine Management in the Caribbean OTs workshop was also convened in collaboration with the UK Government and Blue Belt Delivery Team.

The Prime Minister, the Rt Hon. Boris Johnson MP, committed an additional £7 million to extend the Blue Belt scheme until April 2021.

Following a recommendation from the Ascension Island Council, 100% of Ascension Island’s 445,000 km² EEZ was designated as an MPA – banning commercial fishing and mineral extraction. Recreational and sport fishing is allowed up to 12 NM (22 km) from shore.

The UK Government announced a new international alliance (Global Ocean Alliance) to help drive urgent action to safeguard the world’s ocean and protect its precious wildlife.

The Conservative Party election manifesto pledged to “… establish a new £500 million Blue Planet Fund to help protect our oceans from plastic pollution, warming sea temperatures and overfishing, and extend the Blue Belt programme to preserve the maritime environment. We will continue to lead diplomatic efforts to protect 30 per cent of the world’s oceans by 2030”.

In collaboration with Caribbean OT Governments, GBO produced a policy brief for the UK Government that provides recommendations on developing a bespoke Blue Belt scheme for Caribbean OTs wishing to participate.

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The Government and people of Tristan da Cunha announced their intention to designate over 90% of the entire EEZ (687,000 km²) as a Marine Protection Zone (MPZ), the largest fully protected marine reserve in the Atlantic Ocean.

The UK Government committed an additional £8m to fund the Blue Belt policy into 2022