The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology highlighted the importance of the Azores Fisheries Observation Programme (POPA) to science and regional economy, adding that it is, "first and foremost, the Regional Government's support to the fisheries sector. "
 
"POPA guides fisheries, generates wages and is an important part of the effort that the Government is making in the training of fishers, such as the case of the tuna fleet," said Fausto Brito e Abreu. He defended that the "observer [fisheries] is not a police officer, but it is someone who shares his experience with fishers, passing on knowledge on several subjects, including onboard waste management and other issues related to the conservation of marine ecosystems."
 
The Regional Secretary for the Sea spoke at the signing ceremony of the new POPA agreement under the International Forum on the Azores Fisheries. He defended that this monitoring campaign is "very important for the promotion of the Azores fish in national and international markets" to ensure the maintenance of the "Friend of the Sea" e "Dolphin Safe."
 
In this regard, Brito e Abreu mentioned that POPA provides "significant support to the regional economy" insofar as it "facilitates the export of Azorean canned fish products." Besides, it also contributes to the recognition of the archipelago as "one of the most sustainable tourist destinations of the world."
 
"The traditional nature of Azorean fisheries is an asset," the government. According to him, "this is the kind of international recognition that brings many tourists to the Azores and tourism is one of the Region's economic growth factors in the next decade."
 
In addition to the economic aspect of this programme, the Regional Secretary stressed the importance of POPA in the "support to science" in the Azores, to the extent that there is a systematic collection of scientific data on marine biodiversity, including birds, whale sharks, sea turtles as well as on various aspects of fisheries in the Azores that otherwise would be very difficult to obtain.
 
"There are few scientific areas that have collected data systemically since 1999," the government official said, pointing out the demersal species cruise as "a significant part of the Azores' scientific heritage."
 
"We must take pride in POPA. It maintains the systematic collection of scientific data and allows us to detect changing in fishing trends that otherwise would not be detectable," said the government official.
 
POPA emerged in 1998 in response to the need for monitoring the exercise of tuna fishing activities, namely as regards with the control of the type of bait used and for demersal specie fishing.
 
Awarded internationally by NGO Association Earth Island Institute, this status has since been granted to the Azorean fleet and tuna-based fishing products on the results of these programmes.
 
Created by regional ordinance as a tool for the management and monitoring of fisheries in the Azores since 1999, POPA has provided information for several parties involved in the fisheries sector, including fishers, researchers and the industry.
 
The Regional Government allocates a financial support amounting to 170 thousand Euros to this programme. This year, the same programme will be implemented in the archipelago of Madeira as a result of the protocol signed this year between both regional governments.
 
POPA involves the participation of the Government of the Azores, IMAR, the Association of Tuna Producers and Similar Species, Pão do Mar Association and Earth Island Institute.