PROPOSAL FOR THE DECLASSIFICATION OF THE AZORES MARINE PROTECTED AREA NETWORK UNDER DISCUSSION
April 2025 | Blue Azores Program Information
CONTEXT
A proposal to declassify the Azores Marine Protected Area Network (RAMPA) is currently under discussion in the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores (ALRAA).
This proposed amendment to the decree approved in October 2024, aims to permit pole-and-line tuna fishing within fully marine protected areas (i.e., marine nature reserves), which would lead to the declassification of these areas as fully protected zones according to international criteria.
The proposal is under review by the Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, Environment, and Sustainable Development (CAPADS) and was opened for public consultation on March 25th, with a participation deadline of April 23th, 2025.
Contributions, suggestions, observations, and comments should be addressed to the President of the Permanent Specialized Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, Environment, and Sustainable Development at:
Email: apreciacaopublica@alra.pt
WHAT DOES THIS AMENDMENT JEOPARDIZE?
1. Declassification of RAMPA's Fully Marine Protected Areas
Introducing fishing activities into fully marine protected areas would inevitably lead to their declassification, as resource extraction is incompatible with the full protection status under international criteria set by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Marine Protected Area Guide (MPA GUIDE).
2. Fully Marine Protected Areas Benefit People, the Economy, and the Environment
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Fully marine protected areas also provide benefits to people. Economic activities depend on a healthy, robust, and resilient ocean. In the case of fishing, fish stocks recover, leading to increased fish populations that move into neighbouring areas, replenishing zones with lower protection levels.
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Science has shown that fully marine protected areas yield the greatest benefits for biodiversity. It's essential to have spaces where marine life and its processes are safeguarded and restored, serving as sanctuaries and enhancing the resilience of marine ecosystems.
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The effectiveness of a network of marine protected areas, as RAMPA intends, must include zones without extractive activities to protect existing species and habitats and allow for the recovery of degraded ecosystems, ensuring their proper functioning.
3. Delay in Portugal's Ocean Conservation Commitments
The international commitment is to protect 30% of the ocean, with at least 10% under full protection. Should the declassification of RAMPA's fully marine protected areas proceed to allow tuna fishing, the Azores would have 0% of their area classified as fully protected, contravening the EU Biodiversity Strategy and its objectives.
4. Undermining a Robust Participatory Process
This proposal seeks to amend Regional Legislative Decree No. 14/2024/A of December 24, approved by the Regional Assembly in October 2024. This decree resulted from a highly participatory process involving various economic sectors and civil society through:
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A solid participatory process, including contributions from 17 entities that agreed there would be no extractive activities in fully protected areas;
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A public consultation with over 400 participants;
Deliberation in the Regional Assembly that included discussions on two petitions and hearings with various entities and experts.
5. Negative consequences for the international image of the Azores
Since the approval of RAMPA, the Azores have been celebrated as a global leader in marine protection. This recognition was based on the decision-making process, the scale of the network, and the adoption of international standards. A rollback in conservation standards, in just a few months, would damage the Region's credibility on the international stage and demonstrate an inability to effectively manage and protect its marine environment.
FULL PROTECTION IS IMPORTANT
FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY OF POLE-AND-LINE TUNA FISHING
While pole-and-line fishing is a more selective and sustainable type of fishing — and its value should indeed be promoted through fisheries restructuring measures — it remains an extractive activity that removes key elements from the marine food web that are essential for its proper functioning.
TUNA PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE MARINE FOOD WEB
Tuna are large predators with a fundamental role in the food web: by feeding on smaller fish, squid, and crustaceans, and through their complex hunting behaviors — which involve interactions with other marine species — they help support other top predators such as seabirds, dolphins, and even whale sharks. It is essential that there are areas where tuna can feed and reproduce, contributing to healthy ecosystems and bringing benefits both to biodiversity and to the human activities that depend on it, such as fishing.
Seamounts are critical for biodiversity
Scientific research shows that although tuna undertake vast migrations, seamounts are crucial areas for feeding and reproduction. Tuna spend more time around these seamounts, using them as “service stations” along their migratory “highways.” By fully protecting some of these seamounts, we are not only allowing biodiversity to recover in those areas, but also enabling declining tuna populations to regenerate — with clear benefits for the long-term sustainability of the tuna fishing industry.
International evidence of the benefits of fully protected areas for tuna fishing — without economic impacts
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Recent studies demonstrate the positive effects of marine protected areas on fisheries — even for highly mobile species such as tuna. These studies show: No negative economic impact on fisheries (Costello, 2024). Increased tuna catches, especially of bigeye tuna, around large MPAs (Lynham et al, 2024).
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An even more recent meta-analysis of 123 marine protected areas (Horta e Costa et al., 2025) confirms that fully protected and well-managed marine protected areas generate greater and faster ecological, social, and economic benefits.
THIS CHANGE WOULD BE A STEP BACK
According to the current legislation that establishes the Azores Marine Park and its RAMPA network, pole-and-line tuna fishing is only prohibited in fully marine protected areas, which represent just half of the protected areas in the Azores Marine Park
Pole-and-line tuna fishing is already allowed in half of the Azores Marine Park
Due to its lower environmental impact, pole-and-line fishing is permitted in the other half of the RAMPA’s marine protected areas, which are designated as high protection areas. This approach was agreed upon during the participatory process with ocean users before the approval of the new marine park areas.
Make your voice heard:
Public participation in this process is crucial to ensure that the vision agreed upon by sea users for the Azores Marine Protected Areas Network is upheld — including the goal of safeguarding 15% of Azorean waters from extractive activities.
Scientific evidence shows that maintaining these fully protected areas allows them to function as marine life sanctuaries, benefiting biodiversity and fisheries alike, and ensuring the protection and recovery of the Azores’ unique natural heritage.
Visit the public consultation page.
MONETARY SUPPORT FOR THE FISHING SECTOR’S TRANSITION TO RAMPA IS BEING PLANNED
How is the RAMPA implementation taking potential impacts on the fishing sector into account?
The decree approved in October 2024 includes mechanisms for the effective implementation and management of the RAMPA’s marine protected areas and it also foresees the approval of a Fisheries Restructuring Strategy for the Azores prior to the RAMPA’s full implementation.
The Regional Government of the Azores has committed to restructuring the fishing sector and to establishing transition mechanisms, including financial compensation for potential consequences of the RAMPA revision. On November 4, 2022, the Regional Directorate for Fisheries began a series of meetings with fishing associations to co-develop a restructuring strategy and action plan with the support of the Blue Azores Program.
To date, 10 meetings have been held, along with the presentation of the fisheries restructuring proposal to the Regional Fisheries Council for discussion with stakeholders.
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The Regional Secretariat for the Sea and Fisheries has also announced its support for an independent study to assess the economic impact of the Marine Park revision (DLR no. 14/2024/A) within the Azores’ Exclusive Economic Zone. This study will analyze data to identify short-term financial impacts on the Azorean fishing fleet and will develop financial compensation proposals within the restructuring strategy — ensuring the long-term viability and sustainability of the region’s fisheries sector.
This entire process is being conducted in accordance with principles of transparency and with the active participation of stakeholders, particularly representatives of the fishing sector.
REFERENCES:
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Costello, M.J. 2024. Evidence of economic benefits from marine protected areas. Sci. Mar. 88(1): e080. https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.05417.080
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Lynham, J., Villaseñor-Derbez; J.C., Evidence of spillover benefits from large-scale marine protected areas to purse seine fisheries. Scienc e386,1276 1281(2024).DOI:10.1126/science.adn1146
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Horta e Costa et al., Marine protected areas stage of establishment and level of protection are good predictors of their conservation outcomes, Cell Reports Sustainability (2025), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crsus.2025.100345
ABOUT BLUE AZORES
Focused on the conservation and sustainable use of the Azores Sea, based on the best available scientific knowledge and with the participation of the community, the Blue Azores Program aims to contribute to the protection, promotion, and enhancement of the archipelago’s marine natural capital, creating new avenues for the sustainable economic development in the region. It thus promotes the conservation of the ocean, the enhancement of nature and the activities that depend on it, and the promotion of a sustainable blue economy. It was born from a partnership between the Regional Government of the Azores, the Oceano Azul Foundation, and the Waitt Institute, in collaboration with the University of the Azores.
