Approval of new Marine Park gives Azores "leading role" in sea protection, says José Manuel Bolieiro - Communication

Presidência do Governo Regional

The President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, welcomed the approval of the Legislative Decree establishing the new Azores Marine Park, which marks an important moment for the Region and the protection of the oceans at a global level.

"This is a role of leadership, power and responsibility in reiterating the global prestige of the Autonomous Region's decision-making capacity for its most important asset. We are more sea than land and have influence in the maritime dimension that we are in the decision-making of our country, the European Union and the world," said José Manuel Bolieiro.

"This definition included a participatory dialogue that allowed all the stakeholders in this matter to participate, with evidence and facts," he added.

For the leader of the Azorean Government, this is an achievement for the Azoreans, with the Region "leading by example" at a national, European and international level in the protection and management of its sea.

The new Azores Marine Park positions the Region as a world leader in ocean conservation, achieving the UN and EU targets set for 2030, legally protecting 30% of the Azores Sea, with 15% fully protected and 15% highly protected.

With almost a million square kilometres of Exclusive Economic Zone adjacent to the archipelago, the Azores are making a significant contribution to Portugal meeting the international targets for the decade.

The Regional Government, standing in solidarity with shipowners and fishers, will promote the restructuring of the sector, ensuring the sustainability of economic activities.

The Parliament took its responsibility and now the Regional Government will continue the process, guaranteeing fair compensation for shipowners and fishers, and consolidating the commitment to sustainable practices in the sector.

This Decree is an important step, not only for the designation of the new Marine Protected Areas Network (RAMPA) but also for its effective management to become a reality by 2030.

The law stipulates that the Management Strategy, Management and Planning Plans and the revision of coastal marine protected areas must be published within three years. It also provides an adaptive approach that allows new scientific evidence to be incorporated into each revision cycle, optimising their management and degree of success.

Led by the Regional Government, with the support of the University of the Azores and the Blue Azores programme, the process of creating the new Marine Park was based on the best available scientific knowledge and saw a high level of participation from stakeholders and civil society.

Over the course of more than five years, scientists, NGOs, public bodies and associations from the fishing and maritime-tourism sectors came together in a process of co-creation that sought solutions that balanced the conservation of marine ecosystems with the impact on economic activities.

"The Azores are taking the lead in deciding what is ours and our future, without being subject to the arbitrary decisions of others," emphasised the President of the Regional Government.

José Manuel Bolieiro stressed that the Regional Government has the "sensitivity and strategy" to implement a decision that "brings prestige to the Azores and autonomy." This decision refocuses "the debate, reflection and decision on this important cause, which is the sea, biodiversity and the quality of human, animal and plant life on the planet."

This approval was issued the same week the Council of Ministers published a resolution approving the National Maritime Spatial Planning Situation Plan for the Azores subdivision. It also comes just a few days after the Minister of the Environment and Energy announced that the National Government will compensate fishers at 100% for potential losses due to the implementation of RAMPA through the Environmental Fund.