The Regional Secretary for Natural Resources said the Azores have demonstrated that "they are at the forefront" of the regions that have invested in the conservation of marine resources and ecosystems by joining the Hamilton Declaration.

"Once again, the Azores are at the forefront of the world regions that have supported the conservation of marine resources and ecosystems as a key factor for the sustainable development of human activities related to the marine environment," said Luís Neto Viveiros.

Being an initiative of the Sargasso Sea Alliance and the Government of Bermuda, the Hamilton Declaration was signed on Tuesday by the host region, the United Kingdom, Monaco, the United States of America and the Autonomous Region of the Azores. The other countries attending the meeting - Netherlands, Sweden, South Africa and the Bahamas - have made a commitment to membership.

Furthermore, several organisations with wide international recognition in the defence and development of sustainable development have conveyed their unconditional and full support to the Hamilton Declaration: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), International Seabed Authority (ISA), OSPAR Commission and Convention on Migratory Species ( CMS).

"The international voluntary cooperation was a historical and revolutionary moment that will open new horizons for an effective governance of high seas," stressed Luís Neto Viveiros.

The Regional Secretary mentioned that "the management and protection of high seas, i.e., international waters outside the jurisdiction of countries, is definitely one of the major challenges that humanity faces today." In this context, the government official noted the "broad consensus on the Hamilton Declaration for the Sargasso Sea Conversation that was reached during this meeting."

"For the first time, states, regions and international non-governmental organisations have joined forces to develop and implement the necessary mechanisms for the management and conservation of one of the most iconic ocean ecosystem in international waters," stressed Luís Neto Viveiros. In this regard, the Azores will contribute with their already recognised know-how.
 
The goals of this international cooperation declaration are in line with the pillars and principles of sustainability defined in the National Strategy for the Sea as well as in the EU Integrated Maritime Policy; the latter takes into consideration Outermost and Atlantic Regions such as the Azores.