Maritime spatial planning is fundamental to maritime policy, emphasises Mário Rui Pinho - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Mar e das Pescas

The Regional Secretary for the Sea and Fisheries, Mário Rui Pinho, stated today that maritime spatial planning in the Region is "fundamental" as a "tool for maritime policies."

“The governing bodies of the Autonomous Region of the Azores must continue to insist on the recognition of their qualified competence in the management of their adjacent maritime space, according to Article 8 of the Political-Administrative Statute of the Autonomous Region of the Azores. The latter embodies the principles of joint management and shared management, both within the framework of the so-called law of the sea and within the framework of a future revision of the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic," he stressed.

Mário Rui Pinho spoke at the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, during the presentation and discussion of the final report of the Ad Hoc Committee for Monitoring Maritime Space Policies.

On that occasion, the government official emphasised the “firm determination of the XIV Regional Government of the Azores to open a new model of autonomy for the 21st century.”

He specified: "Autonomous cooperation, in which all entities help each other in pursuing common goals and management is truly shared between the National Government and the governments of autonomous regions, is embodied in the union of the wills of both levels of public power to achieve a fair final solution."

"This will correspond, albeit with different forms of intervention, to a joint decision on intervention in the planning and management of the Azores and Madeira regional maritime areas," stated the Regional Secretary.