We encourage BIMCO members to participate in the 4th Shipping Industry Consultation“Vessel Activity in the Sargasso Sea: industry participation in developing potential voluntary measures” which will take place on 2 July 2026 (1000–1600 BST) at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), London and online. The concept The Sargasso Sea Commission has, over more than a decade, developed a collaborative, science-based approach to the conservation of a uniquely important high seas ecosystem. Its recent Socio-Ecosystem Diagnostic Analysis (SEDA) provides a robust evidence base on: The ecological and socio-economic value of the Sargasso Sea Key pressures and risks affecting the region Potential pathways for long-term conservation through a Strategic Action Programme (SAP). For BIMCO members, this initiative is particularly relevant because: Shipping is a key user of the Sargasso Sea, and therefore central to any realistic and proportionate solution It represents a pilot case for how shipping can engage constructively in discussions on the implementation of the 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 (BBNJ Agreement) in a way that is operationally practical and globally scalable It provides an opportunity to ensure that any proposed measures reflect real-world ship operations, avoiding unnecessary burden while delivering meaningful environmental outcomes. Focus of the consultation and the stakeholder event The stakeholder meeting, which is supported by BIMCO, aims to provide a Project update, explain the SEDA findings relevant to the international shipping industry, and discuss potential voluntary measures and areas for collaboration that might mitigate identified impacts and as a result contribute to the overall conservation and stewardship of the Sargasso Sea. By close engagement and ongoing consultation, the Project is focused on bui