The Government has said it hopes to discuss its support for high-seas protections covering the Sargasso Sea as part of a global treaty at the next Joint Ministerial Council.

A spokesman said that the Government is in favour of the safeguards being proposed as the part of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement across nations, aimed at looking after marine life in high-sea areas.

The assurance came as questions were asked about the lack of representation by the Bermuda Government at the BBNJ Preparatory Commission event, held at the United Nations headquarters in New York this month.

Noelle Young, an environmental justice delegate and “sustainability solutionist”, who is a consultant for environmental charity Greenpeace, spoke on the issue at the UN event on behalf of Bermuda.

She said that she had invited Alexa Lightbourne, the Minister of Home Affairs, and Jaché Adams, the Minister of Public Works and Environment, to attend.

At the event, activists, scientists, Indigenous community members and Greenpeace called on governments to agree on the process for the first protected areas under the Global Ocean Treaty.

The treaty, adopted by the United Nations in June 2023, is also referred to as the BBNJ Agreement.

It has been ratified by 52 countries and the European Union, but 60 ratifications are needed for the treaty to come into force.

Bermuda, as an Overseas Territory, does not have the jurisdiction to ratify independently of Britain — a stipulation that Ms Young said should be addressed.

The government spokesman said: "The ratification of the Global Ocean Treaty is a matter for the UK Government as Bermuda is an Overseas Territory and does not have the authority to ratify international treaties in its own right.

"The Government of Bermuda remains supportive of international efforts to protect the Sargasso Sea and other areas of ecological importance, and will continue to work through the frameworks available to it, including discussions with UK representatives.

"This issue may also be raised at the next Joint Ministerial Council, subject to agreement between the relevant ministries."

Ms Young, who ran as an independent candidate in the last General Election, said she contacted the Bermuda Government as soon as the UN Office of Legal Affairs confirmed its approval for her to attend, as an observer, the preparatory commission event, which started on August 18 and runs until Friday.

Ms Young, along with Greenpeace, requested attendance at the side session hosted by the organisation on August 19.

She said: “Unfortunately both were otherwise engaged but the Minister of Public Works and Environment’s office did state that they were working on finding someone to attend in his place.

“While it was disappointing not to have government representation present in the plenary hall of deliberation, I understand the challenges of scheduling international engagements.

“The Greenpeace event was very well received and welcomed a broad range of delegates from international NGOs to civil society leaders, youth groups and government representatives from across different regions.

“In particular, I called for support regarding Bermuda’s right to be included in the governance of a Sargasso Sea sanctuary that Bermuda helps to govern in the international waters around our island, and wider support from other nations and subnational island jurisdictions — especially those that are signatories to the 2014 Hamilton Declaration on Collaboration for the Conservation of the Sargasso Sea — to join Bermuda in advocating for its protection under the soon-to-be-ratified UN High Seas Treaty.

“I believe it is always valuable when governments are represented in these spaces, but I also recognise that this is a long process with many opportunities ahead which I anticipate the Government of Bermuda will engage with.

“My hope is that Bermuda’s leadership continues to allow me to engage at the global level as discussions continue about the rights of islands like Bermuda and hopefully provide endorsement for me to do so as they have for some past events.

“I remain committed to empowering my community in any way I can.”

Reshima Sharma, the deputy head of politics at Greenpeace UK, added: “Going forward, we hope to work with the governments of both the UK and Bermuda on the creation of a high-seas sanctuary in the Sargasso Sea once the UN High Seas Treaty enters into force.

“On ratification, it’s our understanding that once the UK Parliament has ratified the treaty, UK Overseas Territories can indicate whether they would like the treaty to apply to them, and potentially replicate the legislation in their own Parliament.”