The Regional Director for Sea Affairs, Frederico Cardigos, attended, on behalf of the President of the Government, the opening of the documentary exhibition Recuperação dos Habitats Marinhos (Recovery of Marine Habitats) which follows the project “Ilhas Santuário para as Aves Marinhas” (Sanctuary Islands for Seabirds).

The event which was held in Vila Franca do Campo on Tuesday afternoon is integrated in the “Blue Week” promoted by the Vila Franca do Campo Town Hall to celebrate the World Oceans Day which is celebrated nest Wednesday.
 
The exhibition features information on the ongoing works developed under this project which is coordinated by the Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds and financed by the European Commission, the Regional Government of the Azores and by the Vila Franca do Campo and Corvo Town Halls.
“Sanctuary Islands for Seabirds” is a pioneer and unique initiative at a global level that tests methods to eradicate predators and invasive plants with the purpose of restoring the population levels of the most endangered seabirds of the Atlantic.

Field studies are taking place on the island of Corvo, where the largest population of Cory’s Shearwater in the Azores is located, as well as on the Vila Franca islet, the nesting place of several seabirds, such as the common tern.

For the Regional Director for Maritime Affairs, the implementation of this project will boost the existence of healthier seabird populations in the Azores, which is very importance as, in the case of some species, the populations living in the Region represent 50 percent of the worldwide population.
According to Frederico Cardigos, if these seabird populations exist in the Azores, they will be healthy at a global level, but if they cease to exist in the Azores, probably they will cease to exist on planet Earth.