Corporate Compliance Training Launched in British Indian Ocean Territory as Part of UK Government’s Blue Belt Programme
The UK Government’s Blue Belt Programme has launched a comprehensive training package to strengthen the capability of UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs) in protecting and managing their marine protected areas. The training modules, designed specifically for participating UKOTs, are currently available only to St Helena, Ascension Island, Tristan da Cunha, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, Pitcairn Islands, and South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands.
Comprehensive Training Package
The package includes:
- Five eLearning modules with associated games providing a high-level overview of Marine Protected Area (MPA) Management, Marine Biosecurity, Surveillance Tools & Technology, Enforcement Processes, and Compliance & Enforcement in the UKOTs
- Three interactive games testing learners’ understanding of MPA Management, Marine Biosecurity, and Compliance & Enforcement
- Seven comprehensive training units covering everything in the eLearning modules but in much more detail, with narrated presentations, videos, and supplementary material to support the content
- A specialist module for air crews undertaking aerial patrols in British Antarctic Territory and South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands
Effective Learning Approaches
The training package features:
- Animations and interactive games to enhance understanding and engagement
- Dramatised scenarios of surveillance and monitoring of suspected Illegal, Unregulated, and Unreported (IUU) fishing to promote best practice for anyone involved in the protection and sustainable management of the marine environment
Benefits and Availability
The training package is:
- Free of charge to anyone within the Blue Belt Programme
- Easy to access through the Marine Management Organisation’s Learning Management System
- Both educational and engaging to complete
Quote from UK Minister for the Environment, Lord Goldsmith
“Building capacity within the Overseas Territories is a key priority of the Blue Belt initiative. This platform provides a one-stop shop for comprehensive marine management training in the Territories, ensuring long-term, on-island expertise remains at the forefront of marine policy development.”
Quote from Stephanie Martin, Tristan Da Cunha’s Environmental and Conservation Policy Officer
“Whilst the UKOTs are hugely diverse, all share the ambition and commitment to safeguard their precious ecosystems and marine environments for future generations. These training modules will both strengthen their knowledge of how the challenges they face are best tackled and provide the skills and knowledge required to support the successful management of their MPAs.”
About the Blue Belt Programme
The Blue Belt Programme is a UK Government initiative to enhance marine protection across over 4 million square kilometres of marine environment in the UK Overseas Territories. The programme has been central to the UK Government’s ambition of leading action to tackle serious global problems, including overfishing, species extinction, and climate change.
Acknowledgments
The training package was created by Virtual College, with support from the Marine Management Organisation’s training team and key partners on specific modules. The Blue Belt Programme is grateful to all those involved in its creation and production.