The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology pointed out in Lisbon that the Azores are committed to "the investment in scientific knowledge of the sea" with the aim of "protecting the most vulnerable ecosystems and making a sustainable exploitation of marine resources." According to him, "this is an ethical obligation."
 
Fausto Brito e Abreu spoke at the International Meeting of Ministers of the Sea under the 2016 Oceans Meeting. The event was attended by delegations from fifty countries and eight international organisations to discuss the importance of scientific knowledge and issues concerning the sustainability of the seas.
 
In his speech, the government official stressed the importance of regional government in maritime policy and in the "coordination of different level of governance at international, national and regional level." Moreover, he highlighted the added value of the installation of the Atlantic Observatory on Faial as a scientific collaboration centre in the international context.
 
The Regional Secretary also noted the creation of the Azores Marine Park, "one of the first in the world," which includes "the first marine areas classified outside the EEZ [Exclusive Economic Zone], already included in the Extended Platform under national jurisdiction."
 
In this context, he highlighted the recent change to the document that determines the structure of the Azores Marine Park, which allowed the classification of six new marine protected areas.
 
Brito e Abreu also welcomed the inclusion of the application of the Mid Atlantic Ridge (MAR) by UNESCO National Commission in the indicative list of Portugal's World Heritage.
 
The application, under consideration at UNESCO National Commission since March, includes part of the nine islands of the archipelago and its 596 islets, the territorial sea, the subarea of the Azores belonging to the Portuguese Exclusive Economic Zone and the contiguous extended platform.
 
The Oceans Meeting, which ends Saturday, summarises the strategic principles for the governance of the oceans, including the implementation of the National Sea goal and the structural balance between economy, sustainability, culture and social and territorial cohesion.