Working to conserve the Sargasso Sea

Fae Sapsford is a marine research fellow with the Sargasso Sea Commission and a PhD student working to build understanding about the benefits of international cooperation for conservation of the ocean. In a GEF Voices interview, she shared advice for other young people looking to build a career related to the environment.

What do you do for a living? 

I work to conserve the Sargasso Sea, a unique and biodiverse region of the Atlantic Ocean bounded by four currents. I manage communications for our GEF-funded projects and support the Sargasso Sea Commission Secretariat with academic and operational tasks.

How did you get into this line of work? 

I started a science communications Instagram account focused on the oceanic ecosystems around Bermuda, where I’m from, after finishing my post-graduate degree. With some experience in English, law, and conservation, I was able to get an internship at the Sargasso Sea Commission which eventually turned into a longer-term position. I have learned a huge amount at the Commission about the international legal landscape for the conservation of the high seas.

What is special about the Sargasso Sea? 

I feel really lucky to be able to experience the high seas on my doorstep in Bermuda. We are the only land mass in the Sargasso Sea – a two-million square mile open ocean ecosystem, bounded by the circulating currents of the North Atlantic gyre. 

What distinguishes this incredible open-sea ecosystem is the floating, golden Sargassum seaweed for which the sea is named. As well as supporting fascinating endemic species that spend their entire lives in the algae, Sargassum acts as a critical nursery habitat for many species of pelagic fish and all species of Atlantic sea turtle. 

The Sargasso Sea is the only known spawning area for two species of endangered anguillid eel – which transition from marine breeding grounds to freshwater feeding grounds. It also acts as a migratory corridor for several species of sharks, rays, and cetaceans. 

This ecosystem is threatened by various pressures – including impacts from shipping, fishing, and plastic and other pollutants. At the same time, it is difficult to protect because it is an area beyond national jurisdiction that doesn’t belong to any one country. 

Is there a GEF-funded initiative that is close to your heart? 

We are implementing a four-year, nearly $3 million project GEF-funded project Strengthening the stewardship of an economically and biologically significant high seas area – the Sargasso Sea. Through this initiative, part of the Common Oceans program led by FAO and with partners including UNDP and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, we are creating a socio-ecosystem diagnostic analysis that lays out the ecological and economic importance of the Sargasso Sea, as well as the pressures it faces. This document will be used to inform discussions on a strategic action program for Sargasso Sea, which will include conservation measures agreed by stakeholders.

This work is generating a lot of important lessons learned that can help inform the implementation of the newly adopted BBNJ Treaty, or its official title which is quite a mouthful, “Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction,” including new approaches to utilizing the best available science in high seas areas through partnerships and big data, and the implementation of a dedicated stakeholder engagement strategy designed to generate project buy-in and co-develop conservation measures with the diverse set of actors on the high seas. 

Communications is also close to my heart – the Sargasso Sea is an iconic high seas area with many charismatic species, and I prioritize making people feel as excited about the Sargasso Sea as I do with captivating visuals and communications materials. We are hoping to hold an event on the lessons learned for the conservation of the high seas through the Sargasso Sea project at the upcoming UN Ocean Conference in Nice.  

Has anyone you have met through your work made a lasting impact on you? 

I have learned so much in this job due to working closely with David Freestone. His mentorship has led to me starting a PhD at the World Maritime University Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute related to my work at the Sargasso Sea Commission. 

The state of the global environment can be concerning. What gives you hope? 

The fact that we have overcome complex environmental problems before. For example, oil pollution and the devastating effects of DDT were seen as insurmountable problems at the time, but the global community came together and legislated against them to the point they are almost not a problem anymore. Something similar happened with chlorofluorocarbons; when we realized how harmful they were to the ozone layer, we legislated against them with the Montreal Protocol, which every nation on earth has now signed. We can keep achieving similar results through multilateralism, with dedication and initiative.

What message do you have for today’s political leaders, about the ocean? 

We can’t keep looking at the ocean in silos. We cannot separate parts of the ocean very effectively; it is so connected that it’s better to think about it as a whole system. For that matter, the ocean cannot be separate from issues on land, and climate issues, biodiversity issues, pollution issues cannot be seen separately. They have to be understood together and addressed together. This is particularly seen on the high seas, where for the first time the BBNJ agreement regards the high seas holistically and offers a pathway to sustainably conserving them. 

What advice would you give a young person today who is interested in a career related to the environment? 

Take as many work experience opportunities related to your specific area of interest as you can, as early as you can – and if you can’t find one that you like, create your own.