The Regional Secretariat for the Sea, Science and Technology has decided to maintain the restrictions to fishing activities in four protected marine areas around the island of Santa Maria. The maritime tourism activities in these places will also be subject to regulation.

Published in the Official Journal today, the ordinance establishes the specific access rules for fishing activities in Ambrósio Reef, Maia Reef and Pedrinha Reef as well as in the marine area around the Vila Islet. Under this legal document, the Government has doubled the protection area in each of these locations.

"We have established the rules for the use of four protected marine areas located on Santa Maria by sea tour operators offering diving activities," said the Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology. The government official added that "diving with mantas in Ambrósio Reef is an activity that is being increasingly sought after by tourists, thus promoting the visibility of the Azores."

Fausto Brito e Abreu defended that this specific activity "lacked some rules to ensure that there are not too many divers near these specimens, which may cause them to move away from our waters."

The decision to regulate maritime tourism activities in four protected marine areas on the island of Santa Maria was taken after hearing fishing industry associations, sea tour operators, the University of the Azores, non-governmental organisations in the area of environment, Maritime Authorities and the Clube Naval of Santa Maria.

The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology stated that "the process to expand protected areas on the island of Santa Maria involved the participation of various entities." In this context, the government official stressed "the leadership role" played by the Santa Maria Natural Park and the Clube Naval of Santa Maria in the organisation of several meetings "involving professional and amateur fishers, environmental NGOs, sea tour operators, the maritime police and port authorities."

"It was a widely participated process that enabled the Government of the Azores to make an informed decision that defends the interests of Santa Maria islanders and of all Azoreans," concluded the government official.

The supervision of these protected marine areas falls under the responsibility of the Regional Inspectorate of Fisheries, the Regional Inspectorate for the Environment and the National Maritime Authorities.