The Government of the Azores has created, by order published today in the Official Gazette, the Underwater Archaeological Park of Canarias, the Spanish steam ship that sank off the island of Santa Maria on November 13, 1871.

Approved in September, the decision of the Azorean Government aims, among other things, to protect, preserve and disseminate the archaeological heritage, promoting the study of this area.

Hence, fishing activities will be banned within the new archaeological, regardless of the techniques and methods, as well as the anchoring of vessels, buoys or any other devices. The legal document also restricts the conduction of scientific research without the permission of the managing authority which, in this case, is the Regional Directorate for Culture.

The regional implementing decree, which takes effect on Friday, October 30, specifies that "the collection of archaeological material or any item belonging to the underwater cultural heritage is allowed only in the context of underwater archaeological works duly licensed by the competent regional body in this area."

The site of the sinking of the ship Canarias, located in shallow waters near the southwest coast of Flores, has "visiting conditions that are line with the interest and representativeness of the shipwreck. Canarias participated in the transport of troops in the Ten Years War, the first war of independence that led to the independence of Cuba years later, marking the end of the Spanish overseas empire."

According to regional implementing decree establishing this underwater park, "the protection of the sunken remains of Canarias allows the conservation and safeguarding of existing marine biodiversity in the area, which represents coastal environments in the Region." In this regard, this submerged structure "provides substrate for the colonisation by sessile organisms, creating an environment similar to the natural coastal reefs of the Azores Sea, which harbours marine species of ecological and economic importance."

The wreck site also presents features that "allow controlled visits of divers, mediated by duly licensed maritime-tourism companies, without negative impact on the conservation of the archaeological and natural heritage."

This archaeological testimony, which is "clearly identified," has "great potential" in the tourist and cultural promotion of the Azores, and, therefore, can "become an underwater museum."
The area where the ship Canarias wrecked is classified as Marine Area for the Management of Resources on the South Coat, included in Santa Maria Natural Park, and as Nature Protection and Conservation Area under the Coastal Management Plan for the island of Santa Maria.

"In addition to complying with the scheme defined by the recently approved decree, this site is also in line with those established" for Natural Parks and Spatial Planning, namely with regard to restricted or conditioned activities.