The nine tuna seiners from Madeira that were allowed to operate in the Azores during this tuna season have joined the Azores Fisheries Observation Programme (POPA), having already signed the "Dolphin Safe Boat" declaration.

As the Regional Director for Fisheries recalled, the signing of this document follow an agreement signed between the Government of the Azores and the Government of Madeira earlier this year.

"Madeira tuna seiners will be able to fish using the pole and line technique in areas where fishing activities are conditioned, likewise Azorean tuna seiners whenever they have observers on board", stressed Luís Costa.

The Regional Director stressed that the accession of Madeira tuna seiners to POPA "provides a response to a claim of the Government of the Azores as well as to an old aspiration of the Association of Tuna Producers and Similar Species."

"All tuna specimens caught in the Azores will now bear the 'dolphin safe' and 'friend of the sea' certificates, a guarantee of quality", said Luís Costa. The government official emphasised the Regional Government's interest to "export the observer programme to other parts of the world that wish to introduce same sustainability standards in tuna fishing activities."

The "Dolphin Safe Boat" is valid for one year and prohibits the crew to adopt practices that intentionally "kill, injure or chase marine mammals and other protected marine species."

Established in 1999 as a tool for the management and monitoring of fisheries in the Azores, POPA has provided information for the various agents involved in the fisheries sector, including for fishers, researchers and industry.

This program annually receives a financial support from the Regional Government. The support allocated in 2014 amounted to 172 thousand Euros.

During this year's season, the Azores fisheries observers will also be responsible the monitoring of on board waste management and floating marine debris.