Bermuda’s ocean supports us all — fishermen and women, families, businesses and communities. It provides food, livelihoods, recreation and coastal protection, and it remains central to our identity and economy. It is no surprise, then, that the Marine Spatial Plan and the proposal to fully protect 20 per cent of Bermuda’s marine area have prompted strong views.

The Fishermen’s Association of Bermuda has raised important concerns about fairness, effectiveness, and collaboration, all valid considerations in shaping a plan that works for Bermuda.

But this plan has not appeared overnight. It reflects more than seven years of engagement with Bermudians across sectors, including fishers, tourism operators, scientists, conservation groups, and government. While not everyone agrees on every detail, it represents the most comprehensive ocean planning efforts Bermuda has ever undertaken. Letting it stall now risks leaving us without a clear, coordinated approach, and with greater uncertainty for everyone who depends on the ocean.

The proposed 20 per cent full protection is not about meeting an arbitrary target. It is based on strong scientific evidence that fully protected areas help marine ecosystems recover and remain productive over time. When designed well, they support the long-term health of fisheries as well as the wider ocean.

Bermuda’s fisheries are rightly regarded as relatively well managed — something we should be proud of and continue to build on. But sustainability is not fixed. Local data shows increasing pressures from extraction, habitat loss, climate change, and increasing demand, meaning even strong systems must continue to adapt to meet these challenges.

The Marine Spatial Plan is grounded in Bermudian data and priorities. International partners have provided support, but decisions about our 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone remain Bermuda’s alone.

No single tool can address the challenges we face. Effective management relies on a combination of measures, including catch limits, licensing, enforcement, education and spatial planning. Fully protected areas are one part of that mix, complementing, not replacing, existing fisheries management.

Many in the community have already contributed time, knowledge and perspective to this process. Building on that shared foundation will be essential. Continued transparency and genuine collaboration will determine its success.

The real question is not whether to choose between conservation and fishing, but how to ensure both can thrive. The Marine Spatial Plan offers a way to balance use and protection, reduce conflict and provide greater clarity for all.

Bermuda now has an opportunity to take a thoughtful, balanced approach to managing its ocean, one that supports our people while safeguarding our natural heritage. Achieving this will require steady leadership, ongoing dialogue, and a continued commitment to working together.

The ocean has always been a shared resource. Its future should be shaped the same way — through a clear, inclusive plan that protects what we depend on today and preserves it for everyone, for ever.

Now is the time for the Government to seize this opportunity and formally adopt the Marine Spatial Plan, with the support of the community it is designed to serve.

• Myles Darrell is head of natural heritage at the Bermuda National Trust