Community-led conservation wins prestigious award for work in Tristan Da Cunha

In the South Atlantic Ocean sits Tristan da Cunha: the most remote, inhabited archipelago in the world. The collection of volcanic islands and surrounding sea is a haven for endangered and endemic wildlife.  

Tristan da Cunha’s Marine Protection Zone (MPZ) was designated in 2021 to safeguard threatened species and the livelihoods of the islands’ c.250 residents. A community-led conservation project, Atlantic Guardians began in 2021 with the aim of building a strong and sustainable foundation for Tristan’s MPZ, the largest fully protected marine reserve in the Atlantic, through a range of management, science, community engagement, communications and global outreach activities. The project is supported by the RSPB, Blue Nature Alliance and the Tristan da Cunha Government. It is testament to the hard work of the Tristan community, and the success of the first few years since designation, that their MPZ has been recognised by this prestigious award.

At Our Ocean Conference 2024 in Greece, Tristan’s MPZ, supported by the Atlantic Guardians project, the UK Government’s Blue Belt Programme and many others, was awarded with a Gold Blue Park Award. The award is given by the Marine Conservation Institute, who offer an independent review of Marine Protection Areas, using science based standard to measure the efficacy of the conservation work. The award is as a recognition of outstanding Marine Protection Areas and serves as a road map for future marine protection projects. 
 
“On behalf of all the community, we are delighted to receive this Blue Park Award in recognition of Tristan da Cunha’s Marine Protection Zone (MPZ). It is essential that marine protected areas are designated to help preserve our wonderful wildlife and ecosystems, and we are thrilled that this award recognises our hard work over the last few years. We are committed to maintaining these high standards to ensure Tristan’s waters are protected now, and for future generations.” Janine Lavarello, Marine Protection Zone Officer. 

Whales and dolphins swim through crystal clear waters; beneath the surface are rich kelp forests, home to the ‘Rock Lobster.’  The islands are host to 90% of the world’s Northern Rockhopper Penguins, while Fur Seals and Elephant Seals breed on pristine beaches. Three species of endangered albatrosses soar over the open ocean, nesting on the islands’ steep cliff edges. 
 
The islands of Tristan da Cunha are a UK overseas territory, and with no airport, they are only accessible by a week-long boat journey.  The inhabited island, Tristan, is home to only 250 people. Here, the land is communally owned and all the resident families farm crops. Their diet mostly consists of the fish they catch to eat and the vegetables they grow, and 80% of income is generated from exporting their high-quality, sustainably fished ‘Rock Lobsters’.  
 
James Glass, Chief Islander and Head of the Fisheries Department, said: “Our life on Tristan da Cunha has always been based around our relationship with the sea, and that will continue, producing 80% of our revenue. I was shocked to hear on the news this month that there has been a 70% decrease in sharks around the world. I am proud that the Tristan MPZ supports sharks in abundance and is a nursery for the endangered Blue Shark. We’re proud that we can play a key role in preserving the health of the oceans, and I’m hoping that this award will promote Tristan and all its accomplishments. 

Our long-term goal has always been to help ensure that the unique biodiversity of our archipelago is protected, not only for the future of our younger generation, but for the future population of the planet.” 

The community, its income and the wildlife are wholly dependent on this precious habitat. While their lobster fishery was already run sustainably, in 2010 the community began discussing how they could take the next steps to safeguard their seas.  
 
In 2020, a Marine Protection Zone was established in Tristan da Cunha and the surrounding sea, with the legislation passed in 2021. The MPZ is the largest ‘no-take’ zone in the Atlantic Ocean (three times the size of the UK), and the designation means no extractive activities, like fishing, can occur. Surrounding the islands is a designated inshore fishery zone, where only sustainable fishing is allowed – here island residents can continue to fish for their livelihood and for food. 
 
Janine Lavarello, Marine Protection Zone Officer said: “As we are surrounded by miles upon miles of open water, the community of Tristan da Cunha has always respected and depended upon the ocean – it gives us more than we could ever ask in return. The designation of Tristan’s MPZ has fostered real pride in the community, showing what incredible things we can achieve despite our limited resources. It has also inspired the younger generation to be committed to marine conservation, helping to protect the environment and the island they call home.”

The MPA is managed by the Tristan da Cunha Government, and many partner organizations have contributed to its success, including Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Blue Nature Alliance, Pew Charitable Trusts, UK Government Blue Belt Programme, British Antarctic Survey, National Geographic - Pristine Seas, Natural History Museum, University of Plymouth, Darwin Initiative, Wyss Foundation, Becht Family Charitable Trust, Don Quixote II Foundation, and Blue Marine Foundation, among others.