The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry highlighted the consensus reached by hunter organisations, farmers, environmentalists and foresters on the definition of the hunting season calendars in the Azores, which he considered essential for a sustainable hunting management in the archipelago.
 
"The hunting season calendars for the different islands are defined after the partners of the sector were heard on the matter, reflecting the consensus reached among all parties involved in this process," stated João Ponte on the first day of the 2019/2020 hunting season in the Azores.
 
The hunting season calendars for each island were published today in the Official Journal and will remain in force until June 30, 2020. They indicate the hunting species, the period for hunting activities, the number of specimens that can be hunted, the areas where hunting is allowed and the hunting methods that may be used.
 
On the islands of São Miguel, Santa Maria, Terceira, São Jorge, Pico, Faial and Flores, it is forbidden to hunt pigeons in the species' nesting areas, especially those located near coastal areas, and the use of boats is also banned.
 
The Regional Government has as its main goal to ensure the sustainable management of hunting resources is, respecting the nature conservation and biological balance principles in the different forms of land use.
 
The management of resources is based on studies conducted on the biology and ecology of game species in the Region as well as on the results of long-term monitoring programmes that have allowed us to perceive variations in the abundance of populations. Additionally, this also takes into consideration hunter organisations, farmers, forest producers and environmentalists, without forgetting the result of opinion surveys carried out among hunters during hunting activities.