OCEANIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS
Given the diversity of scientific data, different groups of stakeholders and socio-economic impacts to be considered in the conservation scenarios, two participatory processes were carried out to focus on oceanic and coastal areas.
1
OCEANIC PARTICIPATORY PROCESS
Focused on areas between 6 and 200 nautical miles of the coast.
2
COASTAL PARTICIPATORY PROCESS
Focused on the areas between the coastline and the 6 nautical miles.
The "6 nautical miles" limit was based on existing legislation - which divides the type of human activities that take place inside and outside the 6 nautical miles since the users of these two areas are different. Thus, the 6 miles were accepted as a limit to differentiate the coastal process from the oceanic process.
MEETINGS
The commitment to protect 30% of the ocean is only possible with the involvement of sea users. Between 2021 and 2023, Blue Azores organized more than 40 meetings with representatives of the various sectors to advise on a solution for the Azores Marine Park.
Meetings included the main fishing associations, an association of maritime-tourism operators, a maritime transport operator, an environmental non-governmental organization and the authorities with competences in MPAs.
The participatory process benefited from the strong intervention of the representatives of 17 stakeholders.
THE OCEAN PARTIPATORY PROCESS INCLUDED
19
Months
17
Entities involved
43
Meetings
27
Meetings attended by the fishing sector
9
General meetings
30
Interim meetings
4
Fish force meetings
CHRONOLOGY OF THE REVIEW PROCESS OCEANIC MPAS IN THE AZORES
MAIN MEETING OBJECTIVES
This process had significant participation from representatives of 17 entities, who contributed with their knowledge about the sea and its resources in order to enrich the process and optimize solutions for the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources.
In these meetings, each stage of the oceanic MPA review process was discussed, including the discussion and approval of a joint vision for the Azores Sea, as well as the specific objectives and criteria to achieve them. The main objectives of these meetings were:
1
Develop a joint vision.
4
Create a collaborative design with everyone involved.
2
Present the scientific data available in the region, as a basis for the priority marine areas to be protected, minimizing the impacts on fishing activity.
5
Identify complementary measures and challenges.
3
Present, discuss and approve conservation objectives.
DESIGN OF THE PROPOSED
MPA NETWORK
The program aimed for an effective, efficient and sustainable solution for ocean MPAs, resulting from the high level of participation and possible consensus between the parties. However, after 8 general meetings, the designed network did not fully comply with the agreed conservation objectives.
In order to meet these objectives, according to scientific advice, minimum necessary areas were added to maximize conservation objectives and minimize the impact on professional fishing activity.
All this work culminated in the development of a legislative proposal for RAMPA, which includes not only scientific advice, but also stakeholder inputs, while following international best practices in this area.
In June 2024, after a period of public consultation and approval by the Governing Council, this proposal was forwarded for discussion in the Regional Legislative Assembly of the Azores (ALRAA).
Learn more about the legislative proposal, here.
ENTITIES INVOLVED
The stakeholders involved in this participatory process, called the Working Group, included the following entities: