Regional Secretariat for the Sea and Fisheries
Mário Rui Rilhó de Pinho
Mário Rui Rilhó de Pinho Regional Secretary for the Sea and Fisheries
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Azorean fishers and shipowners allowed to catch additional 425 tonnes of bigeye tuna this year
Secretaria Regional do Mar e das Pescas
Azorean fishers and shipowners allowed to catch additional 425 tonnes of bigeye tuna this year
Regional Government launches new clean-up campaign to tackle growing marine litter threat
Secretaria Regional do Mar e das Pescas
Regional Government launches new clean-up campaign to tackle growing marine litter threat
Notice of support for fisheries and aquaculture sustainability in the Azores republished
Secretaria Regional do Mar e das Pescas
Notice of support for fisheries and aquaculture sustainability in the Azores republished
June 18, 2025 Azorean fishers and shipowners allowed to catch additional 425 tonnes of bigeye tuna this year
May 9, 2025 Regional Government launches new clean-up campaign to tackle growing marine litter threat
April 29, 2025 Notice of support for fisheries and aquaculture sustainability in the Azores republished
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Welcome Note

The Azores sea represents a significant part of the country's vast area under maritime jurisdiction. For the Azores, the sea has always played a very important role, namely in its development, influencing the economy and shaping its own identity.

Given the relevance of the Azores sea, the Regional Secretariat for the Sea and Fisheries (SRMP), a department of the XIII Regional Government, was created with the aim of providing a more adequate response to the pursuit of the Region's interests in the sectors of the sea, fisheries and fisheries inspection.

The SRMP is responsible for the definition and implementation of regional policies in the areas of oceanography, fisheries and aquaculture, enhancement and preservation of the marine environment, as well as other matters related to the sea. They include the planning and management of the coastline and marine protected areas, and maritime spatial planning. 

Based on a global vision of promoting a healthy ocean, through a sustainable blue economy, the regional strategy for the Azores Sea is of particular importance, as well as the Azores Maritime Spatial Planning Plan, as structural elements to develop and leverage the economy of the sea.

It is also important to mention that the regional policies for the governance of the ocean will be based on co-management work to promote an integrated and sustainable management, aligning the interests of various political and economic agents and stakeholders. They will always rely on the contribution of researchers, fishers and associations of the sector. 

"Welcome to the website of the Regional Secretariat for the Sea and Fisheries (SRMP)"

Aware that the economic viability and competitiveness of the fisheries sector entail the definition of strategies that take into account the state of resources, the SRMP will focus on the scientific assessment of the target resources of different fishing activities. This may eventually lead to the adaptation of the fleet to existing resources, always safeguarding the social and economic component of the sector. 
Considering that the sea represents a fundamental pillar for the future viability of the Azores, the Regional Secretariat for the Sea and Fisheries is committed to strengthening fundamental instruments for the implementation of Community policies and the respective national and regional support policies for the sea sector. 

The Regional Secretary for the Sea and Fisheries
Manuel Humberto Lopes São João

Regional Directorate for Fisheries more
Regional Directorate for Maritime Policies more
FUNDOPESCA more
Regional Inspectorate of Fisheries and Maritime Uses more
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Azorean fishers and shipowners allowed to catch additional 425 tonnes of bigeye tuna this year
Nota de Imprensa
June 18, 2025
Azorean fishers and shipowners allowed to catch additional 425 tonnes of bigeye tuna this year
The Regional Secretariat for the Sea and Fisheries, through the Regional Directorate for Fisheries, has secured an additional 425 tonnes of bigeye tuna from the National Government, which will be added to the 2,500 tonnes made available for 2025. This is the result of joint efforts undertaken by the governments of the two autonomous regions, following weeks of negotiations, culminating in this excellent news for professionals in the Azorean fishing sector engaged in tuna fishing using the pole-and-line method. This year, for the first time, a memorandum of understanding between the two autonomous regions entered into force on January 1, with the primary goal of promoting sustainability in the sector. The same operating rules were adopted by the tuna fleets of the Azores and Madeira, further extending the fishing season. This management led to an increase in the average price in the Azores at the first auction sale of about €0.48 this year. The Regional Government continues to work with professionals in the sector to ensure that the first auction sale price of this species continues to grow in the future.
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Regional Government launches new clean-up campaign to tackle growing marine litter threat
Nota de Imprensa
May 9, 2025
Regional Government launches new clean-up campaign to tackle growing marine litter threat
As part of the celebrations of European Maritime Day (May 20), the Regional Secretariat for the Sea and Fisheries, through the Regional Directorate for Maritime Policies (DRPM), and in collaboration with the Blue Azores programme, invites the entire Azorean community to take part in the Regional Coastal and Underwater Clean-up Campaign 2025.  The initiative aims to join forces in protecting the coastal ecosystem and marine life by removing waste accumulated in the marine environment. There are already 25 clean-up actions in May.  In the Azores, the latest data shows that marine litter continues to pose a serious threat to natural habitats.  According to the latest report assessing the environmental status of the Azores' marine waters under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), the abundance of macro-litter on Azorean beaches is above the European reference limit (20 items/100 m), with a regional median of 50 items/100 m. This reflects the urgent need to reduce the presence of this type of waste by 60% to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES).  Marine litter in the Azores is dominated by plastics, which account for 84% of the waste collected on the coast/beaches between 2016 and 2023, with small plastic fragments (between 0 and 2.5 cm) being the most frequent.  These materials not only degrade the landscape but also have significant impacts on marine wildlife, from ingestion by birds, such as Corey's shearwater specimens, to the entanglement of turtles and cetaceans.  All the data collected during the clean-up actions carried out in 2025 will also contribute to the targets of the LIFE IP AZORES NATURA and CircularOcean projects (1/MAC/2/2.6/0023), in addition to being part of the international reporting within the scope of the MSFD and the OSPAR Convention. This will reinforce the active role of the Autonomous Region of the Azores in protecting the North-East Atlantic.  How to participate:  - Organise a clean-up action in your area, preferably within Natura 2000 areas;   - Take part in actions already planned by local associations or schools (registered events will be disseminated on the Government's marine litter portal);  - Advertise the campaign on social media, inviting friends and family to join in;  - Register the type and weight of waste collected at: www.lixomarinho.azores.gov.pt. The actions are open to schools, associations, companies and citizens in general.  Registration for an initiative can be done by filling in the form available at https://forms.gle/efhswVYyYyPd5fnu9 or by contacting: [email protected].
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