The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology stated in Horta that "a proper [maritime] inspection is critical to ensure the Region's powers over the Azores Sea."
 
Speaking at the Legislative Assembly, Fausto Brito e Abreu stressed that surveillance is "essential" for the two areas in which the Region holds "specific powers," namely nature and marine biodiversity conservation and fisheries management.
 
The Regional Secretary took part in the debate on a draft resolution on maritime surveillance in the Azores. According to him, there has been "a consistent and gradual increase" in the number of annual missions undertaken by the Regional Inspectorate of Fisheries over the past six years.
 
"The number of annual missions increased from 500 in 2010 to an average of 650 missions per year between 2013 and 2015," the government official said, adding that the number of inspections carried out in each mission increased from 1,000 in 2010 to more than 1,500 in 2014 and 1,300 in 2015.
 
Brito e Abreu also stated the Regional Inspection of Fisheries has 10 inspectors based on four islands, highlighting the "existing coordination between supervisory bodies", through the Programming and Planning Commission of the Integrated Surveillance System of Fishing Activities. The latter meets on a monthly basis and encompasses "supervisory bodies," namely the Regional Inspectorate of Fisheries, the Maritime Police and the Navy.
 
The Regional Secretary for the Sea also stated that the Regional Government is waiting for the "full implementation" of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) to invest in new monitoring technologies, especially in drones and high-definition surveillance cameras as well as in the implementation of electronic fisheries monitoring blue boxes (MONICAP) in all vessels over 10 metres.
 
Brito e Abreu also stressed that the Government plans to install this year two high-definition surveillance cameras on the island of Santa Maria, more specifically in Maia and Baixa da Pedrinha, two cameras in the Natural Reserve of Formigas Islet and one camera in Fajã de Santo Cristo on São Jorge Island.
 
In his speech, the Regional Secretary for the Sea stressed the Government's commitment to training fishers to "ensure the sustainability of fisheries," reminded several cases of violations by Azorean fishers in areas "off the coast." In this regard, it is necessary to take an "educational-based approach and not just a legal approach" with the professionals in the sector in order to ensure the future of their occupation.