Azores lead marine conservation with financial support exceeding 10 million dollars - Communication

Presidência do Governo Regional

The President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Boleiro, presided over the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding for the Blue Azores Programme, at a ceremony held today at the João José da Graça Public Library and Regional Archive, Faial Island. This commitment reinforces the Azores' environmental policy, aimed at marine conservation and the sustainability of ocean resources.

"With this moment of concession, we are taking another important step in the history of the sustainability of human, animal and plant life on our planet," he emphasised.

The initiative is based on the best available science, which recommends protecting at least 30% of the marine environment to mitigate the threats oceans face.

"The establishment of marine protected areas is an essential part of the global strategy for the conservation and management of the marine environment adopted by the United Nations and the European Union," stated José Manuel Bolieiro.

With the approval of the new marine park, the Azores will play an essential role in helping Portugal meet the international targets for the decade, increasing national marine protection from 4.5% to 19.1%.

Over the last six years, the Blue Azores programme has brought together scientists and various stakeholders in an unprecedented process of co-creation, with the aim of balancing the conservation of marine ecosystems with local economic activity.

In October 2024, the Azores created the largest network of marine protected areas in the North Atlantic, with a total of 287 thousand square kilometres under full or high protection. This measure contributes to the recovery of marine biodiversity, strengthening the sustainability of fisheries and promoting a resilient blue economy.

The Blue Azores partners have decided to strengthen their commitment to protecting, promoting and enhancing the Azores Sea through this new Memorandum of Understanding, which "is not just a renewal of the old one" but a decisive step towards its effective implementation.

The Memorandum of Understanding sets out the following main goals: the effective implementation of the Azores Marine Protected Areas Network (RAMPA), with strategies and management plans defined by law; the restructuring of the fisheries sector to ensure sustainable exploitation of marine resources and socio-economic and environmental balance; the review and implementation of the network of coastal marine protected areas; and the creation of a mechanism to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the Azores Marine Park.

The Blue Azores programme will receive funding of at least 10.4 million dollars for its implementation over the next five years, including five million dollars from the Waitt Foundation; 2.7 million Euros from the Blue Ocean Foundation and 2.7 million dollars from the Blue Nature Alliance.

Moreover, the Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, announced that the Environmental Fund is available to support compensation for any losses fishers may incur following the implementation of RAMPA. This support falls within a wider plan to restructure the fishing sector in the Azores, ensuring a balance between environmental protection and economic viability.

The Blue Azores Programme's partners have played an essential role in achieving this strategic vision, contributing with their scientific knowledge as well as funding and providing technical support for the effective implementation of marine protected areas.

The commitment of organisations such as the Waitt Foundation, the Oceano Azul Foundation and the Blue Nature Alliance demonstrates the importance of international collaboration in ocean conservation, ensuring that the agreed goals are achieved in a sustainable and balanced manner.

With this initiative, the Azores are taking a leading role at a global level in protecting the oceans, standing out as a benchmark in the creation of marine protected areas and the implementation of innovative conservation policies.

In committing to protecting 30% of its waters and establishing the largest network of protected areas in the North Atlantic, the archipelago is at the forefront of European and international environmental strategies.

The commitment to the best available science, combined with a participatory and inclusive approach, confirms the Azores as a model of sustainability, demonstrating the possibility of reconciling the preservation of biodiversity with economic development.

"The Region demonstrates its ability to lead by example, investing in the future of the Azores and forthcoming generations," José Manuel Bolieiro concluded, emphasising the commitment to the strategy and goals set out.

Also present were the President of the Portuguese Parliament, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, the Representative of the National Government for the Autonomous Region of the Azores, Ambassador Pedro Catarino, the President of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, Luís Garcia, the Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, the President and Founder of the Waitt Foundation, Ted Waitt, and the President of the Oceano Azul Foundation, José Soares dos Santos.