The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea was enforced on November 16, 1994. Portugal ratified the document on 14 October, 1997 and in the following year the Council of Ministers decided to adopt the November 16 as the “National Day of the Sea.”
“The Sea is of unquestionable importance for the Azores, being their widest ecosystem. In order to celebrate this day, the Secretariat for the Environment and the Sea has decided to organise a programme that will help identify opportunities offered by the sea and raise awareness for its use and limits,” stated the Regional Director for Maritime Affairs, Frederico Cardigos.
On the island of Santa Maria, a documentary film on the marine environment will be exhibited at the Dalberto Pombo Environmental Interpretation Centre on November 16 at 9:30 PM, followed by a debate. In turn, a challenge was launched to the schools on the island of São Miguel to encourage them to use the resources of the Island Nature Park to celebrate the National Day of the Sea. On November 15, the Ribeira Grande “Ecoteca” (Environmental Awareness Raising Centre) will support the Gaspar Frutuoso Basic Education School in the organisation of a pedestrian walk along the coast from the mouth of the Ribeira Grande stream to the Ponta do Bandejo. On the following day, the Ribeira Grande Secondary School will exhibit marine documentaries in a session that will count on the participation of Bruno Sérgio (Ecoazores) and José Serra (RTP Açores). Moreover, a lecture on “The Azores Sea and its Specificities,” organised by the Regional Directorate for Maritime Affairs” will take place at the Domingos Rebelo Secondary School on November 17 at 9 AM.
On the island of Pico, several films on marine themes will be distributed to be exhibited and discussed at secondary schools. Regarding the island of Faial, the celebrations start on November 12 with a visit to the Cory’s Shearwater reception centre (Sea Centre) to observe the tagging process of these seabirds, followed by the release of birds saved the night before by the “SOS Cagarro” Night Brigades. On November 16, the results of the “SOS Cagarro 2010” (SOS Cory’s Shearwater 2010) campaign will be made public at the Sea Centre at 10 AM. The participation certificates in the Night Brigades promoted by the Faial Island Natural Park will also be delivered at the same session.
In turn, the “Ecoteca” on the island of Terceira has organised a pedestrian walk along the coast with contents related to the sea in a partnership with the Eco-Schools of that island. Moreover, on the island of São Jorge several recreational activities will take place at the kindergarten of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Velas and at the Calheta Basic Education and Secondary Education. These activities include various games and the exhibition of documentary films about the sea.
Regarding the Western Group islands, the celebration programme includes a guided tour addressed a local senior group to the Interpretation Centre of the Boqueirão Factory on the island of Flores on November 16. A film about the oceans will also be exhibited during this visit. On the island of Corvo, the Corvo Island Natural Park, in a partnership with the Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds, will present about the ocean acidification at the Mouzinho da Silveira Basic Education School, followed by a debate on the consequences of this phenomenon.