The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology pointed out that the main strategic focus of the Regional Government on maritime policy "is based on three components," namely "the knowledge based on scientific research, the conservation of maritime resources and the sustainable exploration of these resources."
 
Speaking at the presentation of "LEME - PwC Barometer of Maritime Economy (LEME Zoom Açores)" on behalf of the President of the Government of the Azores, Fausto Brito mentioned some of main initiatives carried out by the Government last year, since the first edition of "LEME Zoom Açores."
 
With regard to sea-related scientific areas, the Regional Secretary recalled the launch of the tender to support scientific research projects in July 2015, being in line with the Strategy for Research and Innovation for the Smart Specialisation of the Azores (RIS3), amounting to three million Euros; the sea and fisheries are its main priority axes.
 
As for the conservation of resources, Brito e Abreu stressed the fishing resources management measures, namely "the revision of minimum catch sizes and closed season periods for the most sensitive species, and some measures to optimise the management of fishing quotas" assigned to the Region.
 
Brito e Abreu also recalled the proposal submitted by the Regional Government to the Legislative Assembly in January this year for the creation of four marine protected areas with the aim of including them in the Azores Marine Park, which will now have 17 offshore marine protected areas.
 
In addition to the protection of biological resources, the government official also stressed the protection of other natural resources, such as the areas with the best waves for surfing.
 
"Surf has been included in the geographic information system for the Maritime Management Plan developed by the Regional Government," the government official said, stressing that "the most important areas to this activity have been identified and taken into consideration in the evaluation process of the impact of projects on coastal areas."
 
In his speech, Brito e Abreu also pointed out the MIDAS project, an international project involving the University of the Azores. It is dedicated to the study of the environmental impact of the exploration of minerals on the sea floor; "the latter is expected to have economic significance for the Region in the future."
 
"The Government of the Azores aims to ensure the sustainable exploitation of these resources, whose potential is mentioned in the European strategy for 'blue growth'," said the government official.
 
The Regional Secretary for the Sea also stressed the importance of fisheries. It remains "the most important sea-related economic activity in the Azores, corresponding to about 20% of exports in the region, and still has a considerable social importance."
 
In this context, the government official mentioned the strategic document "Better Fisheries, Better Income," which lists the set of measures to boost fishers' income.
 
As for the maritime tourism sector, the Regional Secretary highlighted amateur diving and, particularly, diving with sharks and manta rays, pointing out that the Government has promoted a "voluntary code of conduct to ensure that tour operators run their business in a sustainable manner."
 
Brito e Abreu also stressed the investment in new areas with potential in the Azores, namely aquaculture and marine technology, emphasising the recent creation of a package of tax benefits for both areas, providing benefits in terms of Corporate Income Tax (IRC), Real Estate Transfer Tax (IMT) and Municipal Property Tax (IMI) to companies creating jobs in the archipelago.
 
"We want to promote the image of the Azores as a vibrant region for the development of activities related to the 'blue economy'," the government official said, defending that, in the future, the archipelago will become "an internationally recognised training centre in maritime affairs," through the Azores Maritime School.
 
"LEME - PwC Barometer of Maritime Economy" consists of a publication of data on the development of the maritime economy in Portugal which, for the second time this year, issued an offprint dedicated to trends of variables in the regional maritime economy - "LEME Zoom Açores."
 
For the Regional Secretary, maritime economy "is one of the areas with the greatest potential for job creation and economic growth not only in the Azores, but also in the country and in Europe."
 
In this regard, Fausto Brito e Abreu said the studies published in "LEME - PwC Barometer of Maritime Economy" are relevant "to the definition of public policies in these areas as well as to the identification of statistical information that will evaluate whether public policies are yielding, or not, the desired results."