Overview
Creating marine protected areas is essential to address current significant environmental degradation challenges such as overexploitation, species extinction crisis, pollution, and climate change.
These challenges require mobilization and collaboration from intergovernmental, governmental, non-governmental organizations, and civil society. The commitment to protect 30% of the planet Earth through protected areas is an internationally agreed-upon goal. The 30% target was defined in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, a deal established at the 15th United Nations Conference on Biodiversity (COP15), and within the European context, in the European Union Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. At the national level, this goal is reflected in the National Strategy for the Sea 2030. The Azores have been actively pursuing these targets under the established national and international agreements, making efforts to effectively protect 30% of the Azores Sea by 2030.
Led by the Azores Autonomous Region, through successive Governments, with the support of the Oceano Azul Foundation and the Waitt Institute, Blue Azores program also involves the University of the Azores and numerous regional and international partners and constitutes an aggregator program of existing capacity.
The presentation focuses on the revision of the Azores Marine Protected Areas Network (RAMPA) and details the scientific, legal, and stakeholder engagement processes leading to the amendment of the regional legislative framework governing RAMPA and the Azores Marine Park approved by the Regional Assembly in Oct 2024. This includes mechanisms to support the fishing sector’s transition and restructuring, integrating ocean literacy, and promoting a blue bioeconomy. The legislation was developed through extensive consultation and stakeholder engagement and provides a legal framework and timeline for managing MPAs and supporting the fishing sector’s transition.
Programme
14:00
Introduction by Valerie de Liedekerke, BlueMissionAA / AIR Centre
14:05
Talk title: Blue Azores Program: From the definition to the implementation of a network of Marine Protected Areas
14:45
Q&A moderated by Valerie de Liedekerke, BlueMissionAA / AIR Centre
Speakers
SPEAKER
Adriano Quintela
Blue Azores
Adriano Quintela is a specialist in marine environmental planning systems, with an emphasis on governance and participatory processes. He is currently the scientific coordinator of the Blue Azores Program, an initiative dedicated to the conservation of the Azores’ marine ecosystems.
With a degree in Biology, specializing in Marine Biology, and a PhD in Geography, in Integrated Management of Coastal Zones, from the University of the Azores, he has focused his research on Marine Spatial Planning (MSP). This field is fundamental to the sustainable use of the ocean, helping to reduce conflicts between sectors and promote synergies between different activities. Through MSP, it is possible to encourage investment by creating predictability, transparency and clearer rules, as well as increasing cross-border cooperation, developing coherent networks of protected areas and protecting the environment by identifying impacts early and exploiting opportunities for the multiple use of space.
His scientific career has always been driven by the motivation to act as a link between the scientific community and the competent authorities involved in the decision-making process. Throughout his career, he has participated in various international projects exploring the interactions between natural, physical and human systems in coastal and marine environments, and as a researcher at the University of Aveiro, he was part of the team responsible for the Strategic Environmental Assessment of the National Maritime Space Situation Plan, in its four subdivisions.
Resources
November 6, 2024, Atlantic & Arctic Lighthouse Weekly Hour S03E01 with Blue Azores: From the definition to the implementation of a networkof Marine Protected Areas
Relevant links
Focused on the conservation and sustainable use of the Azorean Sea, the Blue Azores Program will contribute to protecting, promoting and valuing the rich marine resources of the archipelago. Blue Azores is the result of an international partnership between the Regional Government of the Azores, the Oceano Azul Foundation and the Waitt Institute, uniting in a single vision of a healthy Azorean Sea and a thriving maritime society. Blue Azores aims to create new avenues for the sustainable economic development of the archipelago, in direct cooperation with the program’s stakeholders. Blue Azores is based on the following main goals: -Protect 30% of the Azores Sea through marine protected areas with at least 15% of fully protected marine areas. -Prepare and implement management plans for all marine protected areas, including existing ones and those to be designated. -Contribute to marine spatial planning. -Support the restructuring of the fishing sector.