Under the current discussion of reform of the common fisheries policy, the Government is pleased by the fact that the Government of the Republic has recognised, following the adoption of the regulations on the western waters, the need for the Commission to review the current access scheme of the Community fleets to the Exclusive Zone of the Azores, so that the area between the 100 and 200 miles will not be accessible to the EU vessels which have never fished in the Azorean waters between 1998 and 2002.
 
An excessive fishing effort by the Spanish surface longline fleet of the Azores, between 100 miles and 200 miles has been found over the past four years when the system to protect the Azorean Sea was reduced from 200 to 100 miles, which has occupied the small number of the fishing grounds in that area; therefore, limiting and undermining the work of the Azorean fleet, even when fishing other species.
This increase in the fishing effort, which is totally inadequate to the productiveness of the Azorean maritime sea, because it also leads to the catch of sea turtles, has reduced the population of these species in the Atlantic.
 
As the Azorean sea is a privilege area for the growth of a turtle species, designated as Caretta caretta (common sea turtle), which is located between the maritime areas of Florida and of the Azores, the Government of the United States also has supported the Government Azores regarding the protection of the aforementioned species, at Community level, in the sustainability of fisheries and in the protection of the vulnerable marine ecosystems in this area of the Atlantic.
 
The Government of the Azores will continue to defend, in all instances, its historical fishing rights in its maritime territory, which is the Exclusive Economic Zone, in accordance with the EU principles concerning the good governance of fisheries, which include the principle of the sustainable development and balance between environmental, economic and social aspects, thus providing to the Azorean population that exclusively depends on the fishing  activity an adequate living standard in the medium and long term.
 
As the fishing activity is one of the real basis for the development and creation of wealth in our country, that the Government is pleased to mark this new attitude of the Government of the Republic which, in such an important stage of the review of the European common fisheries policy, regards the defense of the regional fishing fleet’s production as well as of the historical rights of the Azorean fisherpeople  in the entire Exclusive Economic Zone of the Azores as a national priority in the negotiations at a Community level.