The President of the Regional Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, was honored yesterday in California with one of the world’s most prestigious distinctions in ocean conservation, receiving a Peter Benchley Ocean Award — often described internationally as the “Oscars of the Ocean.”

Bolieiro was recognized in the category of “Excellence in National Leadership” during a ceremony held at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Cannery Row, California, before traveling onward in the United States.

Speaking to journalists before departure, the Azorean leader said the distinction belonged above all to the Azores and its people.

“This distinction elevates the Azores and the Azorean people, and it is in those terms that I receive it with enormous pride,” he said. “The Azores should be congratulated because we adopted legislative policies grounded in science, through the work of our scientists and researchers, and transformed that knowledge into political and legislative decisions approved by parliament, which gives them stability.”

The international recognition comes largely in response to the creation of the Azores Marine Protected Areas Network (RAMPA), which established protected status for approximately 30 percent of the Azorean sea, creating what Bolieiro described as the largest marine protected area in the North Atlantic.

“Our maritime dimension is what gives us amplitude,” he stated, adding that the Azores fulfilled one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals not by following international trends, but “by leading through example.”

“We are the largest Atlantic dimension of the European Union,” Bolieiro said. “We are setting the example. We are ahead. We are not running because others already acted. We moved forward first.”

The Regional Government leader emphasized that the marine protection strategy was built upon scientific research conducted in the Azores, particularly involving deep-sea mapping and oceanographic studies.

“I want to praise our University of the Azores, our researchers, and the work being done in understanding our water column, our deep sea, and the mapping efforts that have taken place,” he said.

The creation of the marine protected network was not without debate within the islands, particularly among sectors connected to extractive fishing industries. Bolieiro acknowledged those concerns while insisting that the government worked to build broad consensus through dialogue with stakeholders and fishing communities.

“Of course there are no unanimous positions in matters like this,” he said. “Those more connected to extractive economic activity may feel penalized, but they will not be abandoned. We will stand in solidarity regarding any demonstrated income losses.”

He argued that any short-term economic impacts could be mitigated through compensation measures, restructuring within the fishing sector, and expansion of what he described as the “blue economy.”

The Azorean president also acknowledged that large environmental transitions often generate resistance, but maintained that the international recognition demonstrates the region is aligned with the right long-term strategy.

“I believe I am serving not only the present generation we are living through, but above all future generations,” he declared, “as well as the global prestige of the political, economic, and social decisions — and the intergenerational solidarity — that the Azores are presenting to the world.”

The Peter Benchley Ocean Awards are named after author and ocean advocate Peter Benchley and recognize international leadership in marine conservation, ocean science, environmental policy, and sustainable maritime stewardship.

Translated and adapted from Diário Insular-José Lourenço, director.