José Manuel Bolieiro praises dialogue with Secretary of State and reiterates Azores' "leadership" in maritime affairs - Communication

Presidência do Governo Regional

The President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, received the Secretary of State for Fisheries and the Sea, Salvador Malheiro, at an official audience held today, marking his first official visit to the Region.

The visit was marked by a spirit of institutional cooperation and mutual recognition of the strategic importance of the Azores Sea, both for the Region and for the country as a whole.

"It is a sign of respect for our autonomy and the role that the Azores play in the national and international maritime context," he said.

José Manuel Bolieiro emphasised the need to maintain close and productive institutional relations between the Regional Government and the National Government, especially in areas with a direct impact on the blue economy and the sustainability of the sea.

"These relations should be based on closeness. The experience and political sensitivity of the Secretary of State will certainly be an asset in the performance of his duties as well as in the effective dialogue with the Region," stated the government official. 

The importance of the Azores sea as an invaluable geopolitical, economic and scientific asset was also highlighted. Aligned with the European Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the Region has committed to protecting 30% of its maritime area by the end of 2023. This includes 15% of areas under full protection.

This goal is being achieved through the Blue Azores programme, which promoted more than 40 participatory meetings between December 2021 and June 2023, involving scientific communities, fishers, non-governmental organisations and civil society representatives. 

This process gave rise to the new Azores Marine Protected Areas Network (RAMPA), whose ocean areas will safeguard unique habitats, contributing to ecological resilience and ecosystem regeneration.

RAMPA will be a fundamental tool for creating a sustainable blue economy based on knowledge, conservation and innovation, while promoting skilled employment and regional development.

The meeting also served to highlight investments in science and research, such as the construction of Technopole – Martec, which establishes the centrality of the Azores in the fields of technology and marine research. The research vessel Azores Ocean, another example pointed out, represents an essential component in the consolidation of regional scientific potential.

These resources, financed by instruments such as the RRP, will lay the foundations for a network of national and international scientific collaboration, with the Azores positioned as a natural laboratory and platform of excellence for marine research in the Atlantic.

The President of the Azores Government reiterated that the Azores Sea is a strategic "asset" at a European and global level, due to its biodiversity, geographical position and economic potential. The commitment to sustainability, combined with scientific and technological innovation, will enable the Region to assert itself as a "key player" in the future of the blue economy of Portugal and the European Union.