Azores consolidate "global leadership" in ocean protection and blue economy, says José Manuel Bolieiro - Communication

Presidência do Governo Regional

The President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, reiterated the archipelago's leading position in matters of sustainability and maritime innovation, as he chaired the conference "Ocean Planning: European Participation and the Contribution of the Azores," held at the Whalers' Museum in Lajes do Pico on Thursday.

Organised by the Committee of the Regions, the event highlighted the Azores' strategic importance in protecting the oceans and developing a sustainable blue economy, with impacts beyond the Region's borders.

The head of the Azorean Government stressed that "the Azores are leading the way internationally in creating the largest network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the North Atlantic," referring to the recent establishment of the Azores Marine Protected Areas Network (RAMPA).

This legislative milestone ensures the protection of 30% of the archipelago's waters, distributed between 15% total protection and 15% high protection. It represents an essential contribution to the UN and EU global targets for ocean conservation by 2030.

"RAMPA is a global example and an investment in the future of the Azores and forthcoming generations," he said.

This pioneering project, developed in collaboration with the University of the Azores and the Blue Azores programme, balances the conservation of marine ecosystems with the promotion of sustainable economic activities, bolstering the Region's role as a leader in ocean conservation.

The approval of RAMPA attracted widespread media attention, with the initiative being disseminated by 1,103 media outlets in 12 countries, including France, Switzerland, the United States, Italy and Russia. The total estimated reach of these media publications exceeded three billion views, consolidating the international projection of the Azores as a benchmark in environmental policies and ocean conservation.

José Manuel Bolieiro took the opportunity to defend the installation of the European Deep Sea Observatory in the Region, based at Technopole-MARTEC, located on Faial Island. This experimental research centre, currently under development, represents an investment of 28 million Euros under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP). The infrastructure will be key to furthering the study of deep-sea marine ecosystems, promoting scientific and technological breakthroughs and strengthening the position of the Azores on the international stage.

"Technopole-MARTEC will be a pillar of scientific and technological knowledge in the Atlantic, projecting the Azores as a world reference centre," stated José Manuel Bolieiro.

He also announced that the launching ceremony for the new Azorean multidisciplinary scientific research vessel will take place in Vigo on December 18.

Estimated at 20 million Euros, this ship is a strategic investment in the study of the Northeast Atlantic with capabilities that include seabed mapping, biological exploration of organisms for biotechnology purposes and support for developing offshore renewable energy sources.

"This vessel will be more than a regional asset; it will be a national and European asset, fitted with state-of-the-art technology," emphasised José Manuel Bolieiro.

Furthermore, the vessel will have the capacity to operate globally, with a minimum crew of 20 people and space for up to 30 additional crew members on short-term missions. This highlights its role as a tool for training and research promoted by the Azores Maritime School.

José Manuel Bolieiro stressed that the Azores, with almost a million square kilometres of Exclusive Economic Zone, are "a Region of opportunities that projects its potential to the world, leading processes that combine environmental conservation and economic development."

For the President of the Government, the Azores are an example of how co-creation between the Government, civil society and science can generate balanced and sustainable solutions.

The conference was attended by leading personalities such as Jesús Gamallo Aller, Director-General of External Relations and the European Union for Galicia, MEP Paulo do Nascimento Cabral, and Louis Lambrechts, a member of the Oceano Azul Foundation. Geneviève Pons, Director-General of the Jacques Delors Institute, participated remotely, emphasising the relevance of this issue on the European agenda.

With initiatives of global impact such as RAMPA, the European Deep Sea Observatory and investment in scientific research, the Azores are consolidating their international leadership, not only as an example of environmental conservation but also as a model of innovation and sustainable development for the future.