Atlantic waves crashing on the Azores Archipelago. Featured Image: Andy Mann.
PONTA DELGADA, AZORES, PORTUGAL — The Autonomous Region of the Azores is making waves in marine conservation by establishing the largest network of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the North Atlantic. This historic initiative safeguards 30% of the marine environment surrounding the Azores Archipelago, covering an impressive 287,000 square kilometers.
Mission Blue recognized the waters of the Azores Archipelago as a Hope Spot in 2021, advocating for a coherent network of marine protected areas extending from the surface to the deep seafloor. The Azores Archipelago began their efforts with marine protection in the 1980s, evolving through joint collaboration among government, universities, and local communities. The Blue Azores program, launched in 2019 from a partnership between the Regional Government of the Azores, the Oceano Azul Foundation and the Waitt Institute, and the University of the Azores, has contributed to significant advances in marine conservation in the region.
Dr. Sylvia Earle shares, “Bravo to the regional government and the citizens of the Azores for the creation of a new network of marine protected areas! This historic designation protects 30% of the Azorean sea, propelling Portugal forward to 30×30 and beyond! The Azores is a magnet for life, and protecting this magical place is so logical. Ask the whales – they know how special this place is. I hope other regions see this progress as inspiration. We urgently need to protect the ocean as if our lives depend on it – because they do!”
“When we think of Hope Spots and the Azores, we think of it as a twin-track approach here. The first is using the Hope Spot to bring global awareness and the second track is establishing a network of MPAs. The combination of both is what Hope Spots are about,” says Dan Laffoley, Principal Advisor on Marine Science and Conservation for IUCN’s Global Marine and Polar Programme.
To read the full article, visit the Mission Blue website.
Azores MPA Network Map, courtesy of Blue Azores.
Atlantic waves crashing on the Azores Archipelago. Image: Andy Mann.
