Detailed guide: Conflict, Stability and Security Fund: blue belt programme

Project partners

• Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas)
• Marine Management Organisation (MMO) with the UK Overseas Territories on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs(Defra)

Programme aims

This programme will help to provide long term protection of over four million square kilometres of marine environment across the UK Overseas Territories.

Funded through the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) the programme will support the UK Overseas Territories develop, implement and enforce marine protection strategies.

Overseas Territories

The programme is initially focused on Territories which have designated, or committed to designating, large scale areas (>50% of their maritime zone, or of recognised international importance) for marine protection and ensuring these areas are effectively managed and enforced. These OTs are:

• British Indian Ocean Territory
• South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands
• British Antarctic Territory
• Pitcairn
• St Helena
• Ascension Island
• Tristan da Cunha

The programme is currently working with the Overseas Territories to identify and develop a number of projects that will:

• improve scientific understanding of the marine environment
• develop and implement evidence based, tailored marine management strategies including surveillance and enforcement
• ensure management is sustainable and long term

It will also provide support for UK Overseas Territories which have not committed to large scale marine protected areas through the UKOT Darwin Plus funding scheme, which will provide additional resource for small scale bespoke marine projects.

Commonwealth Marine Economies Programmes

For more information on the Blue Belt programme please contact Programme Directors, Craig McGarvey or Steve Millward