Almost nine months since the public consultation process began to gauge opinion on the Blue Halo project, Pew Charitable Trust has called for Government to release the findings.

Bermuda needs “bold leadership” to forge ahead with plans for a one-of-a-kind, no-take marine reserve in the Atlantic, said Pew’s Andi Pearl.

With global fish stocks plummeting and illegal fishing rising, the Blue Halo project proposes a no-take marine reserve, beginning 50 miles offshore where proponents say very little fishing is conducted, in order to “show the world that we are serious about preserving our ocean environment for future generations”.

Ms Pearl and local Blue Halo advocates believe establishing the reserve would protect Bermuda’s fisheries from potential illegal fishing and the environmental cost of seabed mining.

And Blue Halo is seen as an initiative likely to give the Island global recognition for leading the Atlantic in conservation and increase eco-tourism as an economic benefit.

Speaking with The Royal Gazette on her latest visit to the Island, Ms Pearl said: “We think the Government has the information it needs to create a reserve, and that it would take bold leadership at this point to do that.

“We also think that Government has poll results showing 76 percent of Bermudians are in favour of the Blue Halo. Yes, there are a few vocal opponents, but they can do this and they can do this very soon, and they could reap the benefits.”

Ms Pearl is director for campaigns and policy within Pew’s Global Oceans Legacy project. She is calling on Government to release the findings of the public consultation report, adding that she expected it would “happen fairly soon”.

“Our job is to make sure that Government understands that there’s overwhelming public support for the creation of the reserve, and at this point we are just encouraging Government to remain strong [against] those who are opposed,” she added.

Concerns have been raised about Pew’s involvement in the establishment of the Blue Halo, including the organisation’s motives and its connection with multinational oil companies.

Pew’s original endowment came from the family that owned the Sun Oil company. Ms Pearl said: “I guess that’s why there is confusion, but Pew is not drilling for oil anywhere, not investing in oil drilling anywhere, but yes, the funds did come from the Sun Oil company.”

She has heard concerns expressed over who would control the marine reserve if it is established, that “somehow Bermuda gives up its sovereignty or control by creating a marine reserve.”

“Pew is not looking to get anything out of this other than conservation and protection for Bermuda’s spectacular water. We came in to Bermuda at the request of the Government. We’re here as a resource for Bermuda ... [and] we continue to demonstrate why we think a large-scale, fully-protected reserve is good for Bermuda, and that’s because it is good for Bermuda, not because Pew has anything to gain from it.

“The whole goal of the Global Oceans Legacy, the reason that project was created, was to create large-scale, fully-protected reserves in order to create the first generation of marine parks around the world. The Yellowstones and other national parks that have been created, the people who created them weren’t trying to lock anything up or take anyone’s sovereignty, they were creating places that are spectacular legacies for future generations.”

Most vocal in their opposition to the Blue Halo have been those with an interest in seabed mining. Former Premier Dr David Saul, who is a primary stakeholder in a seabed mining company, has called attempts to establish the reserve “economic suicide.” He has touted deep-sea mineral deposits as a potential “windfall” for Bermuda economically, and that establishing the Blue Halo would be a “travesty” as it would not allow any potential mining to be undertaken in the area.

Ms Pearl said proponents of seabed mining “aren’t fully informed about what the potential is for it in Bermuda”, and that fishermen and tourism stand to lose the most should a mining operation go ahead on the Bermuda platform.

She pointed out that mining is not a clean or neat operation, and said local fishermen should be the biggest opponents of mining because of the likely impact on fish stocks caused disturbed sediments and mining deposits.

“We had one scientist speak to a few of the Ministers. He said, ‘You run the risk of turning your pink beaches black.’ So if you’re concerned about PR and doing something for tourism, seabed mining is definitely not the way to go.”

Pew has spoken to some of the companies looking at seabed mining and asked if they are eyeing Bermuda.

Ms Pearl said: “Seafloor massive sulphides are kind of the ‘neatest’ option for mining where you can kind of go down and pluck something off the bottom and bring it up and you’ve got something of value. We know, based on Bermuda’s geology, there’s nothing like that in the waters here.

“The only thing that might be in the waters here would be manganese nodules and the way that [they] are extracted is you essentially plough up the seabed, you bring all of that sediment up top, you then have to filter through it to see if there’s anything of value, and then the sediment is tossed back overboard.”

“[There is nowhere we can look at for a model on economically and environmentally beneficial mining], not that I know of,” she added.

Online commentators have attacked Pew’s objective as not having the interests of the Island at heart, saying the Blue Halo “will not benefit Bermuda nor Bermudians in any way”.

There have also been questions raised as to why Bermuda, with its extensive history of leading the world in marine conservation, needs Pew’s assistance.

Ms Pearl said Pew was not trying to dictate what Bermuda does with its marine environment. She said: “Pew came in and stands ready still to continue to work with the Bermuda Government and the appropriate ministries on this initiative.”

Referencing recent stories about sewage pollution off the south shore, she added: “Bermuda has seen in the last few weeks how important it is to deal with PR and its reputation as to how it takes care of its marine environment.

“Blue Halo will be positive PR for the Island, and that will increase tourism. We don’t know exactly what the numbers are, but we did some statistical surveys asking if people would be more likely to visit Bermuda if the reserve was created, and the answer was a resounding yes.”