The Regional Director for Sea Affairs stated in Horta that the Government of the Azores intends to be "an active partner in the fight against the global scourge of marine litter."
 
According to Filipe Porteiro, the awareness of populations, "especially among younger generations," for this problem is "fundamental to change behaviours and to reverse the course of the problem."
 
The regional Director spoke Sunday at the signing of a protocol between the Regional Directorate for Sea Affairs and Horta Nautical Club for the implementation of the "Zero Waste in the Azores Sea" initiative in the context of the nautical activities taking place during the Sea Week.
 
According to the Regional Director, this protocol has the purpose of "raising the awareness of all participants in the nautical events of these festivities for the problem of marine litter."
 
"If we cannot prevent marine litter that comes to us from other distant places, we have the civic obligation to avoid the production of marine litter by endogenous sources," said the government official.
 
Under the terms of the protocol, the Horta Nautical Club will be responsible for using reusable material in all social events to be organised next year.
 
Regarding the initiatives planned under the protocol, Filipe Porteiro highlights the placement of appropriate containers for the crews to deposit the waste produced during nautical activities. This campaign for the reduction of marine litter covers all activities promoted by Horta Nautical Club throughput the year.
 
The Regional Director recalled that the Regional Government has been working to mitigate the problem of waste, through the implementation of waste processing systems on all islands as well as through services run by the regional administration.
 
"We have carried out several public awareness-raising campaigns in partnership with several public and private environmental NGOs, involving coastal cleaning actions, exhibitions and the distribution of information leaflets," said Filipe Porteiro.
 
Launched in 2015, the "Zero Waste in the Azores Sea" initiative falls within the Action Plan for Marine Litter in the Azores (PALMA).