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Statement on Bermuda Ocean Prosperity Program
May 20, 2026: The Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, a unit of the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University, is pleased to share the following statement from Craig Carlson, president and chief executive officer of ASU BIOS and ASU professor of microbial oceanography, in response to recent public discourse regarding the Bermuda Ocean Prosperity Program (BOPP).
STATEMENT FROM CRAIG CARLSON
Marine spatial planning, including marine protected areas and sustainable management are successful in supporting positive outcomes for coastal and island communities’ ecosystems and economies. This is backed by scientific evidence at numerous locations around the world.
ASU BIOS is internationally recognized for its rigorous investigation of the physical, chemical, and biological processes that drive marine ecosystem functioning at local and global scales. One of our core missions is to monitor and scientifically evaluate ocean health metrics. Our multi-decadal ocean observation programs, conducted both inshore and offshore Bermuda, generate publicly available data that illuminate how ocean systems respond to natural and anthropogenic stresses over time.
ASU BIOS is one of three original signatories to the Bermuda Ocean Prosperity, together with the Waitt Institute and the Government of Bermuda. We agreed to engage with BOPP as part of our mandate as an independent scientific institution to provide rigorous research and objective advice to inform policy development in the communities we serve. In this capacity, BIOS’ role has been to help develop the scientific analyses and basis to provision the decision-making process with sound evidence. Our scientists have engaged in substantive discussions throughout the development of a marine spatial plan grounded in evidence-based analyses. Throughout this process, our commitment has been to inform decision-making rather than advocate for specific policy positions.
Access to our data and inclusion in marine science and STEM education for the wider Bermuda community remain our core priorities. With more than 120 years of research in and around Bermuda, ASU BIOS has built a legacy of sustained observation that positions us as a trusted resource.
"We will continue to advance ocean science, education, and knowledge for the benefit of Bermuda and the global community,” said Craig Carlson, president and chief executive officer of ASU BIOS
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