This letter was sent to David Burt, the Premier, and copied to The Royal Gazette

Dear Premier Burt,

Re: Bermuda's Marine Spatial Plan — A generational opportunity

I am writing on behalf of the Bermuda National Trust regarding the Marine Spatial Plan and what I believe is a critical moment in its development.

I recently had the opportunity to meet with minister Jaché Adams, who was generous with his time and thoughtful in receiving our concerns and perspectives. I am grateful for his engagement and commitment to this important process. However, given the significance of the decisions now before the Government, I felt it important to write to you directly and to share with you the attached open letter of support for Bermuda's Marine Spatial Plan (below).

The attached letter was endorsed by nearly 70 organisations from across Bermuda's environmental, scientific, tourism, business, education and community sectors. Such broad support is rare and reflects a growing consensus that Bermuda's ocean is one of our greatest natural assets and that its long-term protection is fundamental to our environmental, economic and cultural wellbeing.

My concern is not with the plan itself but with timing.

With your announced intention to step down later this year, the window for advancing this work is becoming increasingly narrow. Only with urgent prioritisation can your government complete this piece of work that has been years in the making and will leave a lasting legacy for Bermuda.

The science underpinning the Marine Spatial Plan is clear. The consultation process has been extensive, the stakeholders have been heard, and the benefits are well understood. Advancing the plan will help to safeguard Bermuda's marine ecosystems, support sustainable fisheries, strengthen our tourism product, increase resilience to climate change, and position Bermuda to attract conservation and blue economy investment.

Opportunities to leave a lasting positive mark on Bermuda are rare. After more than seven years of work, consultation and scientific assessment, the Marine Spatial Plan presents one of those opportunities.

By moving this work forward, Bermuda can demonstrate leadership throughout the region while creating benefits that will endure for generations. Once the framework is in place, government, scientists, NGOs, businesses and the wider community can continue working together to strengthen implementation, secure funding, enhance enforcement and maximise its benefits. What cannot be recovered, however, is lost time.

As Premier, you have the ability to help bring this process to completion and secure a legacy that future Bermudians will look back upon with gratitude. I therefore respectfully urge you to seize this opportunity and support the passage of the Marine Development Act and the Marine Spatial Plan.

This is an opportunity not simply to protect our ocean, but to invest in Bermuda's future.

Thank you for your consideration and for your service to Bermuda.

Yours sincerely,

MYLES DARRELL

Head of natural heritage

The Bermuda National Trust

This open letter was sent to Jaché Adams, the Minister of Public Works and Environment

Dear Sir,

Bermuda's ocean is central to daily life on this island, but it is also under increasing pressure, and decisions made now will determine whether it continues to sustain future generations — creating jobs, providing food security, supporting tourism and recreation, sustaining coastal protection, and shaping our identity as Bermudians. A healthy, well-managed ocean is essential to Bermuda's present and future prosperity.

We write in strong support of the legal adoption of the Marine Spatial Plan (MSP) developed through the Bermuda Ocean Prosperity Programme (BOPP), and its implementation through the forthcoming Marine Development Act.

Why this matters now

Many Bermudians have seen first-hand the changes taking place beneath the surface — fewer fish, degraded nursery habitats and increasing competition for limited ocean space. These trends are not slowing and, without clear management, they will continue to erode livelihoods, community wellbeing and economic opportunity. At the same time, experience locally and abroad shows that recovery is possible when management is clear, balanced and enforced. The MSP provides a practical solution.

A plan built for Bermuda, by Bermuda

The MSP is the result of seven years of consultation and collaboration with a wide range of ocean users, including tourism operators, fishers, scientists, conservation organisations, industry and government agencies. This process was not only extensive, but iterative, incorporating feedback, addressing concerns, and refining the plan to reflect both local knowledge and the best available science. This collaborative approach resulted in a balanced framework that accommodates essential ocean uses — such as shipping, infrastructure maintenance, fisheries and tourism — while safeguarding areas critical to ecosystem health.

Clear benefits for Bermuda

By supporting the Government's commitment to fully protect 20 per cent of Bermuda's Exclusive Economic Zone, the MSP will deliver tangible benefits, including:

— Healthier reefs and replenished fish stocks, supporting local fishers, reducing reliance on imports and strengthening food security

— Clear rules for marine development, helping projects to move forward with appropriate environmental review

— Greater certainty for investment and development, with clear spatial guidelines that reduce conflicts and delay

— A stronger tourism product built on vibrant marine life and ocean stewardship

— Improved governance and enforcement allowing resources to be used more effectively

— Protection for Bermuda's coastlines and communities, helping to reduce storm damage and safeguard homes, roads and public infrastructure as climate impacts increase

A balanced approach for a shared ocean

The Marine Spatial Plan reflects a carefully considered balance between conservation and use. It recognises the importance of tourism and fishing to Bermuda's economy and culture, while taking the necessary steps to replenish fish stocks and protect the habitats that sustain them. At its core, the plan reflects a shared goal: a productive ocean that continues to support Bermudians for generations to come.

A call for leadership and follow-through

Public consultations and surveys have consistently shown that Bermudians expect a well-managed, adequately enforced and healthy ocean. The Government committed to ocean protection as a national priority. Legal adoption of the MSP is the essential next step in turning that commitment into action and demonstrating Bermuda's leadership in ocean stewardship.

Our call to action

We respectfully urge the Government to act without delay to:

— Introduce and pass the Marine Development Act

— Formally adopt the Marine Spatial Plan and the associated Marine Protected Area network

— Ensure it is adequately resourced and effectively enforced

By doing so Bermuda can protect what its people already value, strengthen its blue economy and secure a resilient ocean future for all.

The opportunity to secure Bermuda's ocean future is within reach; now is the time to act.

From the following proud supporters:

Bermuda National Trust, Bermuda Sub Aqua Club, Bermuda Sloop Foundation, Bermuda College Eco Club, Bermuda Rowing Association, Bermudaful Charters, Bermuda Offshore Cruising Association, BermudAir, Cassine, Brooks Marine Services, Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce, Bermuda Audubon Society, BioQuest, The Reefs, Island Time Bermuda, Odyssey Charters Ltd, Burrows Lightbourn, Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute, Beyond Plastics, Endeavour, Clean Energy Storage Solutions, Ocean Human Health Research Programme, The Waterfront Group, Dive Bermuda, The English Sports Shop, Makin’ Waves, BAM Tech Advisors, Nature's Compass, Alexandra Mosher Studio Jewellery, Blue Sky Flights Bermuda, Prodigy Sailing Foundation, The St George's Foundation, Lusso, PinkSands Education, The Historic Wrecks Authority, Nonsuch Expeditions, Bermuda Lion Fish Taskforce, Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, Boutique CC, Ocean Sails, Powetranz, ORSS Project Inc, SeaVenture Diving, Burnt House Productions, Waterstart, Choice Era, United States of Consciousness, The Botanist Ltd, Bermuda Motors, Whales Bermuda, Cambridge Beaches, Sunny Side Solar, Blue Backyard, Harbour Fiduciary Services, TheSwimLife.co, Licensed Commercial Fisherman N233, EcoDive, Living Reefs Foundation, BE Solar, Ana Luna Adventures, Rock Island Gourmet, Rust Busters, The Bermudian, The Walsingham Trust