The mysteries of Anguilla’s deep waters were brought vividly to the surface on Wednesday, 28th January 2026, when the Blue Belt Programme’s Beyond the Reef Caribbean Exhibition opened its doors at Johnno’s Restaurant as part of Blue Week 2026. The exhibition gathered government officials, environmentalists, members of the Beyond the Reef Caribbean team and the wider public, creating a space where cutting-edge marine science met national conversation about sustainability, resilience and shared responsibility.
The exhibition followed closely on the heels of a landmark scientific expedition that began on Friday, 17th January 2026, when a team of 25 scientists from Anguilla and the United Kingdom departed Sandy Ground aboard the British research vessel RRS James Cook. Their journey marked the start of 12 days of pioneering research under the UK-funded Beyond the Reef – Blue Belt Expedition, the first Caribbean expedition in the programme’s ten-year history. Her Excellency the Governor Julia Crouch, Deputy Governor Perin Bradley, the Honourable Premier Cora Richardson-Hodge, and Ministers were present to witness Anguillian scientists joining the ship, a moment symbolising both collaboration and local ownership of the research taking place in Anguilla’s waters.
Over the course of the expedition, scientists mapped more than 2,000 square kilometres of Anguilla’s seafloor for the first time, using advanced multibeam technology that employs sound waves to create highly detailed maps of the seabed. These maps reveal seafloor topography, biodiversity composition and potential navigational hazards, while also offering insights into how offshore environments contribute to Anguilla’s disaster resilience. Vast areas previously unseen were brought into focus, transforming abstract depths into tangible knowledge.
The research went far beyond mapping alone. Using CTD water samplers, scientists recorded how temperature, algae and oxygen levels change with depth, while collecting water samples for detailed analysis. Hundreds of photographs and hours of video footage captured the seabed and open water, unveiling hidden habitats and the marine life within them. Species observed in their natural environments included wenchmen snappers, ocean triggerfish, Coryphaenoides species, anemones and shrimp, offering a rare glimpse into ecosystems that exist far beyond the familiar shoreline.
Fisheries science was a central pillar of the expedition. Fisheries acoustics were used to estimate the abundance and distribution of pelagic fish from the surface to the seabed across key fishing grounds and selected Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) on the Anguilla, Crocus and Malliwana Banks. Complementing this, a mid-water trawl net sampled small fish, crustaceans and molluscs living at depths between approximately 200 and 1,000 metres, helping scientists better understand offshore ecology and the early life stages of commercially important fish and lobster.
Speaking at the exhibition, Melissa Meade underscored the deeper meaning of the work being shared. “One of the acts is making the gift of ordinance. It reminds us that our economy and our well-being are inseparable from one another,” she said. She highlighted that some of the world’s most advanced scientific equipment had been operating “right here in our backyard”, with UK scientists working side by side with local experts. “This Blue Belt belongs to all residents of Anguilla and today’s expo is about sharing that knowledge with you. Blue Week is a call to action… Together, let’s ensure our blue wealth continues to support our blue health.”
Members of the research team echoed that sense of achievement and discovery. Alison Stoker, of the UK, described the ten days at sea as “amazing”, noting that despite challenging weather at times, the team managed to cover the Anguilla Bank, British Bank, waters around Sombrero Island, the Anguilla Ridge and the Sombrero Trough. Equipment was deployed to depths of up to 3,000 metres, collecting seabed imagery, fisheries data and live water samples. “We’ve found some very interesting patterns in certain areas and some very interesting photography… and it just shows what an important ecosystem you have around your coastline – not just nearshore, but in the deep water too,” she said, adding that data analysis will continue throughout 2026 and into 2027.
A particular highlight of the exhibition was the display of deep-sea specimens collected during the expedition, presented by Anguillian scientist Jasmin Ruan. She explained the careful process behind each mid-water trawl, designed to protect delicate specimens and avoid unnecessary by-catch. Long hours were then spent in a chilled laboratory identifying, measuring and sampling organisms alongside colleagues from Anguilla and the Natural History Museum. Among the specimens was Cyclophonus, described as the most common vertebrate on Earth, alongside hatchetfish, unusual shrimp species and different stages of lobster larvae, illustrating life cycles rarely seen by the public. Ruan further stressed the importance of recognising offshore species as part of Anguilla’s natural heritage that also require thoughtful management.
The exhibition also shed light on the broader mission of the Blue Belt Programme, which has worked since 2016 with UK Overseas Territories to enhance the protection and sustainable management of marine environments, establishing nearly four million square kilometres of marine protected areas. Anguilla has been a partner since 2023, joining a global effort supported by organisations such as the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science and the Marine Management Organisation. The programme’s objectives span biodiversity protection, governance, managing human impacts, compliance, capacity building and ocean literacy.
As part of Blue Week 2026, observed under the theme “Our Blue Wealth, Our Blue Health: Securing a Sustainable Tide”, the exhibition formed one moment in a packed calendar of activities running from Monday, 26th January to Saturday, 31st January 2026. Together, these events underscore Anguilla’s growing commitment to science-based stewardship of its marine environment.
Meanwhile, the results of the team’s data analyses will be made available via the Blue Belt Programme’s Facebook page.
By Janissa Fleming
