President Bolieiro says, “Creating the biggest MPA in the North Atlantic is no small feat. This means greater protection for the whales, the sea birds, sea turtles, fish, and so much more that live in these special waters.”

 

The Azores’ first experiences with marine protected areas date back to the 1980s when a few dispersed, small and inadequately resourced MPAs were established in the archipelago with the broad objective to manage marine resources and conserve biodiversity. However, through joint collaboration between the government, the university, and people and the major growth of ecotourism, more and more areas in the Azores have come under careful protection. In 2019, the Regional Government of the Azores announced the Blue Azores program, in partnership with the Oceano Azul Foundation and the Waitt Institute that led to the declaration of 15% of the Azorean Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ) as new no-take marine reserves.