An expert in marine biology has been appointed to a commission set up to protect the Sargasso Sea.

Murray Roberts, a professor of applied marine biology and ecology at the University of Edinburgh, has replaced Howard Roe, who has stepped down after three years as a commissioner for the Sargasso Sea Commission.

According to the commission, Professor Roberts has a wealth of scientific expertise, particularly in regards to cold-water corals.

He has taken part in offshore research expeditions off Norway, Scotland, Ireland, Western Africa and the USA.

Rochelle Newbold, a special adviser on climate change and environmental matters to the Government of the Bahamas, was reappointed for another term on the commission.

Walter Roban, the Minister of Home Affairs, welcomed the appointments.

He said: “I was delighted to get to meet several of the Sargasso Sea commissioners this June in Lisbon at the UN Ocean Conference.

“I am pleased that Rochelle Newbold will continue to serve on the commission and that Dr Murray Roberts will have the opportunity to bring his unique expertise to the table.”

The Sargasso Sea Commission was set up by the Bermuda Government in 2014 to act as the steward of the ecosystem and to keep its health, productivity, and resilience under review,

The ten signatory governments of the commission are the Azores, the Bahamas, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Monaco, the United Kingdom and the United States.