An app feature that allows the public to identify turtles, sharks and whales using their mobile phones has been launched.

The collaboration with ZSL’s Instant Wild platform invites people to tag data using their personal devices in the UK Overseas Territories (OTs), which will help OTs governments to understand more about these vital ecosystems.

The platform updtate was launched at the Blue Belt Symposium in London, where representatives from the OTs, experts and environmental groups will gather over the next three days to discuss the successes and future ambitions of the programme.

Established by the UK government in 2016, the Blue Belt Programme protects more than four million square kilometres of ocean across 10 biologically diverse Territories. It is the largest marine protection network anywhere in the world – across the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian and Southern Ocean.

Footage collected by Blue Belt will be now accessible in the OTs via the Instant Wild camera monitoring platform to support conservation efforts in some of the most biodiverse places on the planet.

Despite an estimated population of just 270,000, the OTs are home to 93% of biodiversity found in British territory and combined with the UK, make up the world’s fifth largest marine estate.

Minister of state at the foreign, commonwealth and development office, Lord Benyon said: “I’m excited to launch our collaboration with ZSL today, which is the latest example of British science stepping up to protect the world’s oceans.

“What better way to inspire the next generation of ocean champions than to immerse ourselves into the incredible underwater world of the UK’s Overseas Territories.

“Our Blue Belt Programme has led the world in ocean protection and this symposium is a landmark moment to build on its successes. We continue to urge world leaders to sign up to protecting at least 30% of the planet’s ocean by 2030.”

ZSL’s Instant Wild project manager Kate Moses said: “Through Instant Wild we aim to democratise access to nature, connecting people to wildlife and providing an insight into what they get up to when we’re not around. So, we’re delighted to put these bright blue waters at people’s fingertips, allowing them to come face-to-face with all the fish, sharks and turtles that swim within them.

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“No matter where people live – whether they’re on islands, nearby or on the other side of the world – we’re working to ensure that everyone can explore this fascinating hidden world.”

Further conservation efforts were announced at the symposium, with South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands increasing their waters closed to all fishing by almost 200,000 km2 to 449,000km2 – or 36% of the marine protected area.

This, together with existing measures, makes the islands one of the largest and most protected areas of ocean in the world.