Portugal hopes to inspire the world with major new ocean protections

Portugal is now home to the largest Marine Protected Area (MPA) network in Europe.

It gives the Azores’ unique underwater ecosystems vital new protections, shielding deep-sea corals, whales, dolphins, sharks, manta rays and fish from damaging activities like fishing.

15 per cent of the Portuguese archipelago’s waters are now designated as fully protected and a further 15 per cent as highly protected, totalling 287,000 square kilometres. 

“This is an achievement for the Azoreans, with the Region leading by example at national, European and international levels in the protection and management of a vital part of our planet: the sea,” says José Manuel Bolieiro, President of the Regional Government of the Azores. 

“We hope our decision inspires other regions, who must act to ensure the future health of the planet.” 

The announcement comes as global leaders gather in Colombia for the UN Biodiversity Conference, COP16.

At last year’s summit, countries reached a historic agreement to protect 30 per cent of land and ocean by 2030, known as 30×30

But it still feels out of reach: currently, just 8 per cent of the ocean is protected in some way and less than 3 per cent is fully or highly protected.

What are Marine Protected Areas and how do they improve ocean health?

MPAs are areas of sea, ocean, estuaries or lakes that are legally protected to conserve nature and support the local economy.

Depending on the level of protection granted, damaging human activities may be restricted or completely banned in these areas. Activities like fishing, mining and pollutant discharge are often strictly regulated.

In ‘highly protected’ areas, only non-damaging activities like swimming and kayaking are permitted.

MPAs are not only good for underwater habitats and the species that occupy them: they also help to restore valuable ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration, boost fish stocks and preserve tourist attractions relied on by locals.

Are Marine Protected Areas effective?

Research has shown that MPAs can effectively increase the abundance and diversity of marine life within their boundaries – but only if they are well enforced. Without further interventions like government compensation for fishing fleet reductions, they often also simply lead to damaging activities being moved elsewhere.

In many MPAs, destructive activities like bottom trawling are still allowed. This involves dragging heavy fishing nets across the ocean floor, which destroys habitats and unleashes carbon stored beneath the seabed.

Earlier this year, Greece became the first country in Europe to ban the practise in all of its MPAs.

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Other threats like oil spills, global warming, ocean acidification and microplastic pollution cannot be eliminated from protected segments of water.

How did the Azores become home to Europe’s biggest Marine Protected Area network?

Under the Azores’ new Marine Protected Area network, fishing and other damaging activities will be banned or restricted in large parts of the North Atlantic Ocean.

Scientific expeditions were undertaken to identify priority areas for protection. 

“Government officials, scientists, industry representatives and local citizens banded together to devise a system of protection that works for everyone,” explains Enric Sala, the founder of National Geographic Pristine Seas, who took part in the scientific exploration of the area now under protection. 

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High-tech tools like underwater cameras were used to assess coastal, open sea and deep sea areas, gathering new information about their biodiversity and the impact of human activity.

“We witnessed that the marine ecosystems of the Azores are one of the most diverse and dynamic in the North Atlantic,” says Alan Friedlander, the chief scientist of Pristine Seas, who was part of the expedition.

“The unique geographical location of the archipelago, combined with its complex underwater topography, includes seamounts, hydrothermal vents, and deep-sea habitats that support unique and diverse biological communities of high conservation value.”

Protecting the Azores’ marine environment will not only help to preserve “ecological, economic and cultural values” for local communities, but will improve “global marine biodiversity, climate stability and oceanic health”, he adds.

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What will it take to achieve 30×30?

Increasing the size and number of MPAs could help Europe towards the 30×30 target. 

Between 2012 and 2021, the EU already doubled its MPA coverage to over 12 per cent, according to the European Environment Agency.

“With new research revealing that we need about 190,000 small MPAs in coastal regions and 300 large MPAs in remote, offshore areas by the end of 2030 to achieve the 30×30 goal, it is encouraging to see the Azores move the world in the right direction,” says Sala.

“Now, it’s time for other regions worldwide to follow their lead. However, it’s important that we don’t protect just any 30 per cent but the right 30 per cent to achieve the greatest biodiversity, climate and food supply benefits MPAs can offer.”

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