A community-driven film championing the Sargasso Sea while advocating for its protection has premiered at an international event hosted by the United Nations.

From the Sea, We Came featuring local ocean advocates was screened at the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Preparatory Commission at the UN’s headquarters in New York this week.

The film, which was made in only three weeks, was co-produced by Noelle Young, an environmental justice delegate and “sustainability solutionist” working as a consultant for environmental charity Greenpeace.

Ms Young is speaking on the need to protect the Sargasso Sea as part of the Global Ocean Treaty at the UN event.

The treaty, adopted by the UN in June 2023, is aimed at protecting marine life in high-sea areas that are beyond national jurisdiction.

Ms Young is making the case that the Sargasso Sea must be included among priority sites in the collective plan to protect 30 per cent of the world's ocean by 2030.

The film supports a petition accompanied by an open letter to the British Government calling for it to use the UN High Seas Treaty [Global Ocean Treaty] to designate the international waters of the Sargasso Sea as one of the world’s first high-seas ocean sanctuaries under the plan.

Ms Young said the film weaved together the voices, heritage and lived experiences of Bermuda’s people, highlighting their profound connection to the Sargasso Sea.

Local conservationists and ocean enthusiasts are featured including Ms Young; Myles Darrell, Bermuda National Trust’s head of natural heritage; Lisa Blackburn, a Pan American Games multi-gold medal-winner; and Sam Bennett, the founder of scuba-diving club Eco Dive.

Ms Young said: “Through personal stories, cultural reflections and intergenerational perspectives, the film highlights how this unique oceanic ecosystem, the only sea without land borders, with Bermuda as the only nation physically tied to it, shapes identity, sustains livelihoods and anchors tradition.

“The film portrays the beauty and biodiversity of the Sargasso Sea while confronting some of the issues that we as people from a subnational island jurisdiction are facing.

“It is both a love letter to the ocean and a call to action, urging leaders to recognise the request that international waters of the Sargasso Sea become one of the world’s first high-seas marine protected areas under the UN High Seas Treaty when it is ratified. It is predicted to be enter into force by the end of the year.”

The film was made possible through funding from Greenpeace, which has supported Ms Young in her campaign.

Ms Young also spoke to a need for Bermuda to receive direct climate funding rather than it going through Britain.

She said: “This treaty provides hope but when it comes to finance, conscience must prevail.

“Subnational islands hold vast stretches of biodiversity on behalf of sovereign nations, yet we are denied direct access to the funds needed for adaptation and resilience.

“The BBNJ financing plan must create pathways for us to access support directly. Without it, progress and protection will once again be delayed…

“We ask that Bermuda and other subnational island jurisdictions be given access to finance to facilitate management of these areas.”

Chris Thorne, a senior oceans campaigner at Greenpeace UK, added: “We have been lucky to work alongside Noelle Young, who is a passionate advocate for ensuring the voices of people across Bermuda are heard when it comes to the Sargasso’s protection. But Bermuda is a UK Overseas Territory.

“The UK therefore has a key role to play in championing the Sargasso Sea as one of the first sanctuaries under this treaty at the United Nations, especially given the Sargasso Sea’s vital ecological and cultural value to Bermudians.”

Greenpeace came to Bermuda on the Arctic Sunrise ship last May to carry out research while consulting with local experts and civil society to determine what help it could offer the community.

The charity also put Ms Young in contact with a team of cinematographers and videographers to help bring her vision to life.

Ms Young added: “Over just three days, we filmed many interviews with Bermudians eager to share their stories. Though time did not allow us to capture everyone who wished to participate, this is only the beginning.

“I hope to continue recording more voices, building a living archive of our people’s experiences, culture and connection to the Sargasso Sea.

“Some stories were so rich and beautiful that they deserve to be told in full, at their own pace, and I intend to do them justice in future projects.

“We will also be creating short videos featuring some of the individual interviews within this film.

“I am deeply grateful, not only to those who appear on camera, but also to those who connected me with others, provided transportation and more. This was a genuine community effort and it has been inspiring to witness.”

Filming locations spanned the island from Daniel’s Head at the old Nine Beaches property, to Admiralty House and St George’s Harbour.

Ms Young thanked the Willowbank Resort and Conference Centre for opening its property to the film crew; Grace Church for its support; and the Warwick Gombey Troupe, which provided performances as a backdrop to the film.

The film was produced and directed by Daniel Arguello, a film-maker from Guatemala, and co-produced by Ms Young with assistance from Burnt House Productions and Bermuda Zoological Society.

• From the Sea, We Came is available to view on YouTube atwww.youtube.com/watch?v=HXdJ8KexiuE