The Regional Director for Sea Affairs stated in Ponta Delgada that "the accomplishment of the 'blue growth' goal requires solid regional policy governance on maritime affairs." According to him, there should be "a coordination of multisectoral policies for the sea at regional level, which should be also in line with national and international policies."
 
Filipe Porteiro spoke under the 4th Intensive Course on Security and Defence in the Azores promoted by the National Defence Institute, where he delivered the conference "The Azores Sea as element for regional and national strategic enhancement."
 
The Regional Director noted that the sea is a "horizontal sector" whose political administrative, economic and operational powers are overseen by multiple services and departments of the regional administration, public and private companies, professional associations and non-governmental organisations. In this context, he stressed that "the coordination and functional integration of maritime affairs is the major challenge."
 
"The sea is regarded as a resource for the progress, political visibility and socio-economic development of the Region," the government official said, adding that the Regional Government has pursued "sectoral policies in line with national policies, embodied in the National Strategy for the Sea, and international policies, namely with the European Integrated Maritime Policy."
 
Filipe Porteiro defended that the maritime policies developed by the Azorean Government are based "on maritime spatial planning, integrated coastal management, research in marine science (fundamental and applied), and the conservation of nature for the promotion of biodiversity and sustainability of sea-related economic activities.
 
In his speech, he stressed that the regional policy for the promotion of 'blue growth' in the Azores takes into account the following aspects: "the adaptive evolution of the legal framework, the training for maritime occupations, the effective response to climate change affecting coastal areas and marine ecosystems, the implementation of smart specialisation strategies promoting the economy,  the rigorous implementation of the structural funds available, the effective promotion of the Region as an eco-tourism destination, the promotion of sports and leisure activities linked to the sea, and the promotion of active and informed citizenship on maritime affairs."
 
"Specifically, we are undertaking efforts so that marine biotechnology and aquaculture can have an economic impact in the short and medium-term, for the benefit of the regional economy and its people," said the Regional Director.