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Secretaria Regional do Mar e das Pescas
Regional Government welcomes Council of Ministers' decision to authorise Environmental Fund to assume compensation payments for RAMPA
Regional Government welcomes Council of Ministers' decision to authorise Environmental Fund to assume compensation payments for RAMPA
Secretaria Regional do Mar e das Pescas
SOS Cagarro campaign kicks off Wednesday, mobilising public and private entities
SOS Cagarro campaign kicks off Wednesday, mobilising public and private entities
Secretaria Regional do Mar e das Pescas
Compensation for fisheries and aquaculture operators paid on October 15, announces Mário Rui Pinho
Compensation for fisheries and aquaculture operators paid on October 15, announces Mário Rui Pinho
October 31, 2025
Regional Government welcomes Council of Ministers' decision to authorise Environmental Fund to assume compensation payments for RAMPA
October 13, 2025
SOS Cagarro campaign kicks off Wednesday, mobilising public and private entities
October 3, 2025
Compensation for fisheries and aquaculture operators paid on October 15, announces Mário Rui Pinho
News
Nota de Imprensa
October 31, 2025
Regional Government welcomes Council of Ministers' decision to authorise Environmental Fund to assume compensation payments for RAMPA
The Regional Secretariat for the Sea and Fisheries welcomes the decision taken at the Council of Ministers meeting, held last Thursday, to approve a resolution authorising the Environmental Fund to incur expenditure and take on the respective multi-annual costs regarding the project "Azores Marine Park – compensation for the fishing sector" in the Autonomous Region of the Azores, up to a maximum total amount of ten million Euros. This was one of the decisions reached during the Council of Ministers' meeting held on Thursday, which was attended by the Presidents of the Regional Governments of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, and Madeira, Miguel Albuquerque. This measure aims to provide financial support to the fisheries sector, taking into account the eventual constraints that may arise from the implementation of the Azores Regional Network of Marine Protected Areas (RAMPA). The latter strengthens the protection of 287,000 km² of marine ecosystems, thus greatly contributing to the achievement of the national and European target of protecting 30% of marine areas by 2030. In October 2024, the Regional Legislative Assembly of the Azores approved a proposal presented by the Regional Government of the Azores, based on joint work with the Oceano Azul Foundation and the Waitt Foundation, that would increase marine protected areas to 30%, with half of them under "full protection." The aim was to increase the preservation of marine resources, reduce extractive activities and make the use of maritime space in the islands more sustainable. This approval was granted in the same week that the Council of Ministers Resolution approving the National Maritime Spatial Planning Situation Plan for the Azores subdivision was published. It also came a few days after the Minister of Environment and Energy announced that the National Government would compensate fishers 100% for any potential losses resulting from the implementation of RAMPA, through the Environmental Fund. With this measure, already announced and now implemented, the intention is to offset immediate losses in the sector, while gradually adapting the regional fleet to the new sustainable fishing conditions, ensuring a balance between environmental conservation and the sector's stability. The Regional Secretariat for the Sea and Fisheries guarantees that the study on the compensation mechanism will be completed before the law comes into force on January 1, 2026, in accordance with the schedule set out in the Regional Legislative Decree. The aim is to complete the final report of the study, the proposed compensation formulas with their impact percentages, and all necessary information for establishing the application rules by December 31 this year, so that the applications can be launched.
October 31, 2025
Regional Government welcomes Council of Ministers' decision to authorise Environmental Fund to assume compensation payments for RAMPA
The Regional Secretariat for the Sea and Fisheries welcomes the decision taken at the Council of Ministers meeting, held last Thursday, to approve a resolution authorising the Environmental Fund to incur expenditure and take on the respective multi-annual costs regarding the project "Azores Marine Park – compensation for the fishing sector" in the Autonomous Region of the Azores, up to a maximum total amount of ten million Euros. This was one of the decisions reached during the Council of Ministers' meeting held on Thursday, which was attended by the Presidents of the Regional Governments of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, and Madeira, Miguel Albuquerque. This measure aims to provide financial support to the fisheries sector, taking into account the eventual constraints that may arise from the implementation of the Azores Regional Network of Marine Protected Areas (RAMPA). The latter strengthens the protection of 287,000 km² of marine ecosystems, thus greatly contributing to the achievement of the national and European target of protecting 30% of marine areas by 2030. In October 2024, the Regional Legislative Assembly of the Azores approved a proposal presented by the Regional Government of the Azores, based on joint work with the Oceano Azul Foundation and the Waitt Foundation, that would increase marine protected areas to 30%, with half of them under "full protection." The aim was to increase the preservation of marine resources, reduce extractive activities and make the use of maritime space in the islands more sustainable. This approval was granted in the same week that the Council of Ministers Resolution approving the National Maritime Spatial Planning Situation Plan for the Azores subdivision was published. It also came a few days after the Minister of Environment and Energy announced that the National Government would compensate fishers 100% for any potential losses resulting from the implementation of RAMPA, through the Environmental Fund. With this measure, already announced and now implemented, the intention is to offset immediate losses in the sector, while gradually adapting the regional fleet to the new sustainable fishing conditions, ensuring a balance between environmental conservation and the sector's stability. The Regional Secretariat for the Sea and Fisheries guarantees that the study on the compensation mechanism will be completed before the law comes into force on January 1, 2026, in accordance with the schedule set out in the Regional Legislative Decree. The aim is to complete the final report of the study, the proposed compensation formulas with their impact percentages, and all necessary information for establishing the application rules by December 31 this year, so that the applications can be launched.
Nota de Imprensa
October 13, 2025
SOS Cagarro campaign kicks off Wednesday, mobilising public and private entities
The Regional Government will launch the 31st edition of the SOS Cagarro campaign on Wednesday, October 15, which will run until November 15. It will mobilise volunteers and engage public and private entities across all islands to save the juvenile Calonectris borealis (Cory's shearwater) birds — one of the archipelago's most emblematic seabirds. Coordinated by the Regional Directorate for Maritime Policies, with direct support from the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action, the campaign arescue biis aimed at rescuing disoriented by light pollution, reducing the risk of being hit by cars and predators. The Azores are home to about 75% of the world's population of shearwaters, which reinforces their international responsibility for preserving this species, recognised by the OSPAR Commission under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Since 1995, tens of thousands of birds have been saved with the help of schools, associations, local authorities and citizens. In 2024, the campaign rescued 6,388 Cory's shearwater specimens, providing veterinary care to 31 and recording the loss of 273 individuals. In June this year, during the OSPAR Convention ministerial meeting in Vigo, a proposal presented by Portugal, led by the Azorean Government, was approved to consider the Cory's shearwater species as a new common bioindicator of floating plastic pollution in Region V (Wider Atlantic). This achievement places the Azores at the forefront of international marine litter monitoring, replacing the fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) as an indicator species in this area of the Atlantic, where it does not occur. During the campaign, everyone is invited to actively collaborate in rescuing birds affected by light pollution, participate in night patrols and awareness-raising activities promoted by the campaign coordinators on each island: the Environment and Climate Action Services. Rescued birds can be registered via the official website https://portal.azores.gov.pt/web/drpm/sos-cagarro directly using the QR code available on the rescue boxes and other promotional materials. The SOS Environment line – 800 292 800 – operates 24 hours a day, free of charge, to assist any citizen in rescuing birds. 📧 [email protected] 🌐 https://portal.azores.gov.pt/web/drpm/sos-cagarro 📞 SOS Ambiente – 800 292 800
October 13, 2025
SOS Cagarro campaign kicks off Wednesday, mobilising public and private entities
The Regional Government will launch the 31st edition of the SOS Cagarro campaign on Wednesday, October 15, which will run until November 15. It will mobilise volunteers and engage public and private entities across all islands to save the juvenile Calonectris borealis (Cory's shearwater) birds — one of the archipelago's most emblematic seabirds. Coordinated by the Regional Directorate for Maritime Policies, with direct support from the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action, the campaign arescue biis aimed at rescuing disoriented by light pollution, reducing the risk of being hit by cars and predators. The Azores are home to about 75% of the world's population of shearwaters, which reinforces their international responsibility for preserving this species, recognised by the OSPAR Commission under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Since 1995, tens of thousands of birds have been saved with the help of schools, associations, local authorities and citizens. In 2024, the campaign rescued 6,388 Cory's shearwater specimens, providing veterinary care to 31 and recording the loss of 273 individuals. In June this year, during the OSPAR Convention ministerial meeting in Vigo, a proposal presented by Portugal, led by the Azorean Government, was approved to consider the Cory's shearwater species as a new common bioindicator of floating plastic pollution in Region V (Wider Atlantic). This achievement places the Azores at the forefront of international marine litter monitoring, replacing the fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) as an indicator species in this area of the Atlantic, where it does not occur. During the campaign, everyone is invited to actively collaborate in rescuing birds affected by light pollution, participate in night patrols and awareness-raising activities promoted by the campaign coordinators on each island: the Environment and Climate Action Services. Rescued birds can be registered via the official website https://portal.azores.gov.pt/web/drpm/sos-cagarro directly using the QR code available on the rescue boxes and other promotional materials. The SOS Environment line – 800 292 800 – operates 24 hours a day, free of charge, to assist any citizen in rescuing birds. 📧 [email protected] 🌐 https://portal.azores.gov.pt/web/drpm/sos-cagarro 📞 SOS Ambiente – 800 292 800
