We have to tell the world we are the first and lead by example, says President of the Government on maritime strategy - Communication

Presidência do Governo Regional

The President of the Regional Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, emphasised today that the Region wants to "lead by example" in the strategy for the sea, namely regarding the protection of marine protected areas.

"We have to tell the world we are the first and lead by example. If we bring forward the scientific definition, in a participatory dialogue, we will be leading the world by example," said the President of the Government. On the occasion, he mentioned the Blue Azores programme and the goals set by the Regional Government to establish the fully and partially protected areas in the law by the end of the year, seven years earlier than internationally defined.

José Manuel Bolieiro spoke in Angra do Heroísmo at the "Outside the Box" meeting, an event dedicated to the sea organised by the Caixa Geral de Depósitos bank.

The President of the Government recalled that part of the "identity and character of the Azores and Azoreans" is defined by the sea, which makes the Region the "centre of the world" for fields such as research or science.

"The Azores sea represents 56% of Portugal's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)," he said.

Regarding the so-called Law of the Sea, José Manuel Bolieiro was peremptory: "Is it legitimate to take competences away from maritime populations and self-government bodies? I do not think so. This equates to taking away the competences and identity of the maritime people, i.e. the Azores and the Azoreans. We cannot tolerate a reduction in this participation."

He pointed out that the issue at stake is not the "definition of borders or international defence and security purposes, exclusive competences of sovereignty, that is, of the National Government," but rather the "economic and environmental use" of the Azores sea.

The environmental, economic and social sustainability of the Region was also addressed by José Manuel Bolieiro to dozens of people present at the event, along with a reminder of the Azores' role in submarine fibre optic cables.

"The regional policies of the Regional Government have always considered matters of the sea to be decisive public policies," he emphasised.