“It is not just about making promises but about delivering on them” – José Manuel Bolieiro takes example of the Azores to UN Conference on Oceans - Communication

Presidência do Governo Regional

The President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, attended the international reception "Blue Azores: Driving Momentum for 30x30," held in Nice, France, as part of the third United Nations Conference on the Oceans. Promoted by the Regional Government in partnership with the Oceano Azul Foundation and the Waitt Institute, this event placed the Azores at the centre of the debate on the future of marine conservation, bringing together world leaders, experts and civil society organisations.

The head of the Azorean Government took the opportunity to recall that the Azores' connection to the sea is deep-rooted and structural.

"Our archipelago has long understood that the health of the ocean is inseparable from our own," stated José Manuel Bolieiro.

The President of the Government also pointed out that, over the last six years, the Blue Azores programme has enabled scientists, fishers, policy-makers and citizens to engage in an unprecedented process of co-creation, which has resulted in the creation of 287 thousand km2 of marine protected areas in the Azores Sea.

"This achievement is not just a figure," he stressed, adding that it is "a promise to forthcoming generations that the Azores will continue to be a sanctuary for marine life, a haven for biodiversity and a model for sustainable living."

During the reception, leading figures in ocean conservation were also honoured, such as Ambassador Peter Thomson, UN Special Envoy for the Ocean, and oceanographer Sylvia Earle. José Manuel Bolieiro was keen to thank both for their contributions: "Your leadership, courage and commitment are a source of inspiration. Together, we are building solutions that cross borders and set an example," he said.

The message from the President of the Azores Government was clear: despite the progress achieved, the work is far from over.

"The path to the full implementation of the network still lies ahead, but we will maintain the level of commitment and action we have already demonstrated. The challenges, from climate change to overfishing, are global and require responses on the same scale," he stressed.

The session ended with a symbolic toast to the ocean and collective action. Yet the impact of the Azores' message was marked not only by words but by the path already taken.

"It is not just about making commitments, it is about fulfilling them," he concluded.