Montserrat has become the latest UK Overseas Territory to join the UK Government’s Blue Belt Programme, the UK’s flagship international marine conservation initiative.
The announcement was made on World Oceans Day, 8 June 2026, by UK Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories, Stephen Doughty MP, at a special tenth anniversary event following the publication of a new impact report.
Montserrat becomes the fourth Caribbean UK Overseas Territory to participate, joining Anguilla, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Cayman Islands, with a commitment to protecting at least 20 per cent of its maritime zone.
The Blue Belt programme as a whole now covers 11 Overseas Territories, which also include St Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha, the Pitcairn Islands and the British Antarctic Territory.
Known as the ‘Emerald Isle of the Caribbean’, Montserrat is a volcanic island located in the Lesser Antilles. Its waters are home to a wide range of habitats and species, including coral reefs, seagrass meadows and critically endangered hawksbill turtles.
The island’s marine environment has been shaped by more than three decades of volcanic activity following the eruption of the Soufrière Hills volcano in 1995, providing a valuable case study in ecosystem disturbance and recovery that scientists continue to study.
Through the partnership, Montserrat will gain access to scientific expertise and technical support from the Blue Belt Programme. Planned activities include underwater habitat surveys to inform marine protected areas and spatial management, science-based fisheries management frameworks, a review of marine legislation, and local capacity building for science-led decision making.
‘I’m delighted to welcome Montserrat into the Blue Belt family as we celebrate ten years of the programme,’ said Doughty.
‘The Blue Belt Programme is a fantastic example of partnership working across the UK Overseas Territories to protect and sustainably manage our precious marine environments,’ he added.
‘This partnership will support Montserrat’s ambitions to conserve its marine environment while supporting sustainable economic growth for future generations.’
Under the programme, scientists and marine managers from the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) and the Marine Management Organisation will work with the Government of Montserrat to improve understanding of the island’s marine ecosystems and develop long-term conservation measures.
Planned work includes habitat mapping, fisheries stock assessments, marine spatial planning, legislative support and capacity building for local marine management.
Research surveys are expected to help identify ecologically important habitats and inform the future designation and management of Marine Protected Areas.
‘Montserrat’s decision to join the Blue Belt Programme marks a significant step forward in our commitment to protecting the island’s remarkable marine environment,’ said Her Excellency, Harriet Cross, Governor of Montserrat.
‘Our waters, shaped by both natural beauty and resilience in the face of volcanic and climate pressures, are home to globally important species and ecosystems. Through this partnership, we are strengthening science‑led, community‑driven marine management that will safeguard biodiversity, support local livelihoods, and build resilience to climate change—today and for generations to come.’
The Blue Belt Programme was established in 2016 and has supported the protection and management of more than four million square kilometres of ocean across the UK Overseas Territories.
The programme combines scientific research, monitoring and enforcement with local conservation initiatives aimed at protecting marine biodiversity while supporting sustainable fisheries and coastal communities.
Montserrat’s accession to the programme follows several years of collaboration between the territory and Blue Belt partners and expands the UK’s commitment to global targets aimed at protecting 30 per cent of the world’s ocean by 2030.
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