Mário Rui Pinho praises documentary portraying Azorean women's connection with the sea - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Mar e das Pescas

On Monday, the Regional Secretary for the Sea and Fisheries, Mário Rui Pinho, on behalf of the President of the Regional Government, presided over the presentation of the documentary "Women from the Sea - Azores." On the occasion, he highlighted the "particularly vibrant" project that encompasses various occupations and included interviews with about 70 Azorean women.

"We have to thank these Azorean women who, in the most diverse areas, from fishing, science, nautical sports, tourism, transport and energy, make the sea their way of life, confirming the close cultural and emotional connection we all have with the sea," stated the government official, who spoke at the Teatro Faialense.

True "ambassadors of the sea" are the women portrayed in the documentary, Mário Rui Pinho stated, adding that they are also "a source of inspiration" when it comes to matters of equality and social inclusion.

The documentary "Women of the Sea - Azores," directed by Raquel Martins for Help Images and sponsored by the Regional Government, portrays the social, professional, cultural and, above all, emotional connection between the Azoreans and the sea  It provides a unique perspective through the eyes of Azorean women and/or women who, although not born in the Region, chose to live here.

As such, this work achieves a double purpose set by the Regional Government: promoting gender equality and promoting the Azores sea, which represents almost 60% of the national Exclusive Economic Zone (57%) and approximately 30% of the European. Its importance is fundamental for promoting the sustainable development of the Region, the country and the European Union, and for harnessing the potential of the blue economy.

Among the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations General Assembly, the documentary addresses two in particular: promoting gender equality, with the empowerment of all women, and protecting marine life.

Regarding the former, although all Azoreans have a deep, visceral and unavoidable connection with the sea that stretches to the horizon, it is a source of livelihood for many families. It is also the last frontier that challenges scientists and academics - historically, it has long been associated with the male world, from the whalers of yesteryear to the fishermen of today, to the first scientists and sportsmen who dived into its depths and challenged its waves, but much has changed in the meantime.

This documentary proves that change is still possible, encouraging girls and young women to recognise themselves in what is a literal sea of opportunities, which is also their legacy and may well be their future, whether as fishers, surfers, scientists, whale watching tourism promoters or as entrepreneurs in the maritime transport or energy sectors, in an endless sea of opportunities that unfolds before our eyes.

As for the protection of marine life, the Azoreans have always shown great respect for the sea and its fauna and flora. Even though traditional whaling did not threaten cetaceans with extinction, unlike other massive industrial whaling practices around the world, the locals still managed to reinvent themselves and transformed whaling into whale watching, factories into cultural facilities, and boats into sports and recreational vessels.