The President of the Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, participated in the celebration of World Oceans Day at the Teatro Faialense in the city of Horta, Faila island. The event was organized by the Government of the Azores in partnership with OKEANOS—Institute for Research in Marine Sciences of the University of the Azores.
The ceremony was also the opportunity to hand over the final report on the characterization of deep-sea habitats to map them up to the outer limit of the Azores sub-area of the Portuguese Exclusive Economic Zone, “thus signaling the excellence of the work carried out over the years by the researchers and their capacity for achievement,” according to the President of the Government.
In his speech, José Manuel Bolieiro highlighted the importance of scientific knowledge for managing and protecting the oceans.
“We can only protect and manage what we know. The management of the maritime space, in its many aspects, is therefore only possible if we know it beforehand and characterize it in depth,” he said.
He also recalled the investment made by the Government of the Azores and the scientific community, which has led to significant advances in understanding marine ecosystems.
“With an investment of 2.6 million euros, the information gathered in the study, which we are going to see today, makes it possible to assess the good environmental status and planning of the maritime space, contributing with knowledge to support effective management of the Azores Sea,” said José Manuel Bolieiro.
The President of the Government of the Azores also stressed that “the research efforts carried out over the last few years make Portugal, and the Azores in particular, one of the regions in the world with the greatest knowledge of the deep sea”.
He continued, ” The support of the Azorean fishing community, as well as partnerships with international institutions, embody the idea that together we can go further.”
The Blue Azores project, a program led by the Regional Government, which aims to protect 30% of the Azorean Sea by revising the Network of Marine Protected Areas, “will be a fundamental instrument in the recovery and conservation of marine biodiversity, from which a truly sustainable blue economy can be created,” he said.
The President of the Government also appealed to the Azoreans to continue to work together in the conservation and protection of the Azorean sea, recalling that “the Azores have the political will, the information, the technology and the necessary tools to be able to lead by example in the knowledge and management of the sea, assuming the responsibilities of being the most oceanic region in Portugal and the European Union.”
The event, held at the Teatro Faialense, marked World Oceans Day. It reinforced the importance of the oceans for the balance of the global climate and for the livelihood of many communities and underlined the commitment of the Government of the Azores to protecting and enhancing its vast blue natural capital.

in Correio dos Açores-Natalino Viveiros, director

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.