MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands Post Office celebrates 10th Anniversary of the Blue Belt Program

The UK Overseas Territories (OTs) are home to 90% of the UK’s biodiversity. Since its launch in 2016, the UK Blue Belt Program has worked in partnership with OTs’ Governments to enhance the protection and sustainable management of these unique marine environments, marking a decade of collaborative ocean stewardship. In total, 4,309,000 km² of the world’s oceans are protected by the Blue Belt Program. That is an area 18 times the size of the UK. Falklands Post Office celebrates such an achievement with the release of specific stamps issues.

Operating in some of the most remote and biologically rich regions on Earth, the Program brings together science, monitoring, compliance and capacity building to support long-term ocean management. Through this partnership approach, it has helped establish and strengthen large-scale Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), improve fisheries sustainability, and develop the evidence base needed for adaptive, ecosystem-based management.

This work reflects a shared commitment to safeguarding marine ecosystems while supporting sustainable use for future generations. Over the past ten years, the Blue Belt Program has continued to evolve, strengthening its focus through three key pillars: climate, nature and people. Together, these priorities support the protection of marine ecosystems, improve resilience to environmental change, and ensure that science and management underpin sustainable use of the ocean.

This work continues to be supported by leading UK delivery partners, including the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) and the Marine Management Organization (MMO). The South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area (SGSSI MPA), one of the largest in the world at 1.24 million km², is home to some of the planet’s most biologically rich marine ecosystems. Established in 2012 and strengthened through regular review, the MPA was further enhanced in 2025 with a major expansion of No Take Zones, now covering over 470,000 km², alongside additional closures that ensure krill fishing is now prohibited across more than half a million km². Supporting a highly productive and biodiverse Southern Ocean ecosystem, the SGSSI MPA sustains species from plankton to whales and serves as a natural laboratory for climate research. Evidence-based management, including a complete ban on bottom trawling, extensive No-Take Zones and strictly regulated, MSC certified sustainable fisheries, ensure this is one of the most effectively protected ecosystems globally.

These stamps celebrate the Blue Belt Program’s three pillars through examples from South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. £1.25 - Climate: Glacier Glaciers are a defining feature of South Georgia’s landscape and are highly sensitive indicators of climate change. Rapid glacial retreat across the island reflects wider warming trends in the Southern Ocean, influencing freshwater input, coastal habitats and ocean circulation. Monitoring these changes helps improve understanding of how climate-driven processes affect marine ecosystems and the species that depend upon them. £1.40 – Nature: Northern Giant Petrel The northern giant petrel is a wide-ranging pelagic bird and an important higher predator within the Southern Ocean ecosystem. Breeding at South Georgia in significant numbers, these birds play a key ecological role in nutrient cycling and food web dynamics. Long-term monitoring of their populations provides valuable insight into ecosystem health and the availability of prey species. £1.55 – Nature: Southern Elephant Seal South Georgia supports one of the largest breeding populations of southern elephant seals globally. They are important consumers of fish and squid, undertaking long foraging migrations across the Southern Ocean.

As top predators, their population trends and foraging behavior may act as key indicators of changes in the marine environment, particularly in relation to prey availability and climate variability. £1.85 – People: Science at King Edward Point Scientific research is critical to the effective management of the SGSSI MPA. At King Edward Point, scientists from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) conduct long-term monitoring and research programs that underpin evidence-based decision making. This work includes studying predator populations, tracking ecosystem change, and assessing the potential impacts of fisheries and climate change, ensuring that management measures remain robust and adaptive.

Technical Details: Design Bee Design; Photography £1.25 Anna Carter £1.40 Vicki Foster £1.55 Jamie Coleman £1.85 Matthew Phillips FDC Martin Collins
Printer Cartor; Process Stochastic lithography; Perforation 13¼ x 13½ per 2cms
Stamp Size 42 x 28mm; Souvenir Sheet Size 110 x 80mm
Production Co-ordination Creative Direction (Worldwide) Ltd