Azores approved the largest network of marine protected areas in the North Atlantic

The Autonomous Region of the Azores recently approved the creation of protected marine areas in 30% of the archipelago’s sea, making it the largest network in the North Atlantic. What impact will this decision have?

A few days before the United Nations Conference on Biodiversity (COP16), which is being held in Cali, Colombia, from October 21st until November 1st, the Autonomous Region of the Azores approved the creation of marine protected areas in 30% of the sea of the archipelago.
According to information released by the newspaper Público, the diploma determines the protection of 30% of the sea that surrounds the archipelago made up of nine volcanic islands, in a total area of ​​287 thousand square kilometers. Because it is "fully protected", no extractive or destructive activities are permitted in half of this area.

The approval of the diploma by the Autonomous Region of the Azores imposes a change to the existing legislation, which will establish "the largest Network of Marine Protected Areas in the North Atlantic", according to a press release from the presidency of the Regional Government.

Azores Sea has an area of ​​around 1,000,000 square kilometers
The regional decision meets the 30x30 goal, which provides for the protection of 30% of relevant terrestrial and marine areas by 2030.

The Azores' leadership is inspiring, considering that less than 3% of the world's ocean is fully or highly protected.

The press release reads, according to the media outlet, that the Azores Sea encompasses an area of ​​approximately 1,000,000 square kilometers, which corresponds to more than half of Portuguese territorial waters (and around 15 % of European waters).
The legal framework that determines the Network of Marine Protected Areas allows the creation of a sanctuary for migratory species, fish and deep-sea corals and, finally, the unique hydrothermal vent ecosystems.
This week, the Government of the Republic announced that will compensate fishermen in the Azores 100% due to the drop in income due to the creation of protected marine areas, according to Lusa.

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