"Azores are international benchmark in marine protection," says José Manuel Bolieiro at UN - Communication

Presidência do Governo Regional

José Manuel Bolieiro, the President of the Regional Government, participated in the high-level session "Leading by Doing – Three Years of Progress and Meaningful Action Towards 30x30" on Wednesday. The event took place in Nice as part of the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3).

Speaking before an audience of policy-makers, international leaders and civil society organisations, José Manuel Bolieiro presented the Azores as a specific example of commitment and action in marine conservation, highlighting the significant progress made over the last three years.

Recalling the commitment made at the previous conference in Lisbon, the head of the Azorean Government highlighted the achievement of the goal to legally protect 30% of the maritime area under regional jurisdiction. In 2024, the Azores formalised the creation of approximately 300 thousand square kilometres of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), the largest network of its kind in the North Atlantic.

"The Azores are a territory aware that the future is deeply intertwined to the health of the ocean," he said, adding that marine protection "is not just an aspiration, it is a reality built on knowledge, dialogue and cooperation," he said. 

José Manuel Bolieiro emphasised that this conservation policy is based on three fundamental pillars: science-based decisions, citizen participation and international collaboration.

In this context, the President of the Government highlighted the role of projects such as Blue Azores, as well as strategic partnerships with organisations such as the Blue Nature Alliance, the Waitt Institute and the Oceano Azul Foundation.

The Azorean model has relied on significant investment in scientific research and a co-creation process of public policies involving fishers, scientists, associations and young people. "The inclusion of local communities is essential to ensure legitimate and effective conservation on the ground," he defended. 

The efforts undertaken by the Azores have also been recognised by the National Government. The Secretary of State for Fisheries and the Sea, Salvador Malheiro, who is also participating in the conference, highlighted the key role of the Region in the progress made at a national level regarding marine protection.

"Last year alone, the percentage of our maritime space under protection has increased from 5% to 19%. This progress would not have been possible without the expansion of the Azores Marine Protected Areas, which is a fundamental milestone," he said, thanking the Regional Government for its "commitment and vision."

José Manuel Bolieiro's contribution strengthens the Azores' position as an international benchmark in marine conservation policies, at a time when the global community is assessing compliance with the 30x30 target — protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030. The President of the Regional Government made it clear that the Region is committed to the full implementation of the network created, including management plans, sustainable financing, surveillance and adaptation of fishing activities.

“The challenges are immense, yet we are proving that action is possible and that the results are tangible. We lead by example,” concluded José Manuel Bolieiro.

This high-level session was attended by, among others, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Chile, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment of the Republic of Palau, and the former Director General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Bruno Oberle. 

The Azores' participation in UNOC3 reiterates its relevance in the global debate on the ocean and the role that an outermost region can play at the forefront of global environmental solutions.