The Azores will establish the largest marine protected area in the North Atlantic

The Azores have approved a law to establish the largest MPA in the North Atlantic, equal to 30% of the ocean around the archipelago.

• The Azores archipelago has created the largest network of marine protected areas in Europe.
• The protected area will cover 30 percent of the ocean around the archipelago.
• A result achieved thanks to an inclusive approach.

The Azores, an autonomous archipelago of Portugal, they approved legislation to create the largest network of marine protected areas (Amp) of the North Atlantic Ocean.This new network, which extends over 287,000 square kilometers, it covers 30 percent of the ocean surrounding the archipelago.Of this surface, half is "fully protected", while the other half is classified as "highly protected".

In “completely protected” areas extractive or destructive activities are prohibited, such as fishing, while activities such as diving, swimming and marine tourism are regulated, he explained to the newspaper Mongabay Luis Bernardo Brito and Abreu, advisor to the president of the Azores government.In “highly protected” areas, only low-impact activities, such as hook and line fishing, are allowed.The goal, according to Brito and Abreu, was to maximize conservation efforts, minimize the impact of fishing and create opportunities for economic growth through tourism and other sectors of the blue economy.

The importance of mapping the seabed of the Azores

The creation of this MPA was possible thanks to scientific expeditions conducted in 2016 and 2018 by researchers from various local and international organizations, who mapped 21,469 square kilometers of seabed surrounding the Azores.Alan Friedlander, senior scientist with National Geographic's Pristine seas initiative, who participated in the expeditions, noted that the mapping revealed unique geological features, including over 300 seamounts which host deep-sea corals and sponges, vulnerable to fishing impacts.Such seamounts, many of them still scientifically unexplored, have been exploited in the past through trawling and were hit by tools.The mapping work has highlighted the delicacy and ecological importance of these areas.

The expeditions also highlighted how the Azores represent an important passage point for numerous migratory marine species, such as whales, dolphins and seabirds.The region, defined by Friedlander as a "biodiversity corridor", connects marine species between the Americas, Europe and Africa.MPA networks like the one created in the Azores help connect different habitats and ecosystems, creating a safety net against local threats such as pollution, overfishing or habitat destruction.This interconnection ensures that, if one area suffers damage, other areas can help maintain the ecological balance.

An inclusive approach to engaging the community

The process of demarcating the protected area required more than 40 meetings between the government and various communities in the Azores, including representatives of the fishing, shipping, tourism and environmental NGOs sectors. An inclusive approach which allowed the needs and concerns of the various interested parties to be taken into consideration, favoring a balance between environmental conservation and economic development.

The new protected area in the Azores, the largest in Europe, represents a significant step towards achieving the global goal of protect 30 percent of the planet's lands and oceans by 2030.Brito and Abreu underlined that the island regions, at the forefront in addressing the impacts of climate changes, they should set an example for the rest of the world.The hope, he added, is that the Azores will demonstrate how it is possible to protect its ocean, while ensuring sustainable economic growth.