Using Sentinel and other low-cost surveillance data to monitor the marine areas around the UK Overseas Territories

The UK has 14 Overseas Territories (OTs) which are internationally recognised for their exceptionally rich and varied natural environments. The oceans surrounding the OTs are not only valued for their diverse marine life, but also for their natural capital. This marine life is, however, at risk of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. Although largely unquantified for the OTs, the global loss to IUU fishing has been estimated to be upwards of USD$23 billion.

Through its commitment to develop a Blue Belt around the OTs, the UK Government has set out its ambition to better protect these important natural resources. As well as the existing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) around the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI), the UK Government recently announced the designation of a no-take MPA around Pitcairn, a sustainable use MPA around St Helena, a roadmap to determine the location of a no-take MPA across at least half of Ascension's maritime zone by 2019 and a regime to protect the waters across Tristan da Cunha's entire maritime zone by 2020.

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