The Regional Secretary for Natural Resources said on Wednesday that the "firm and secure positions" taken by the Azorean Government regarding the Sea, widely debated at the Legislative Assembly, has allowed the Government to safeguard the Region's rights and interests.

In this context, Luís Neto Viveiros recalled the inclusion of "very important" aspects in the final document of the National Strategy for the Sea (ENM), recently approved in Sines. These aspects concern "the recognition of the specific powers assigned to Region and the Azores Marine Park."

"This achievement was the culmination of several public sessions held on all islands," the Regional Secretary underlined, mentioning the involvement of various sectors of society that was encouraged by the Regional Government under the public consultation process on the National Strategy for the Sea.

The Regional Secretary also recalled the negotiation of a new chapter in ENM, which will contain all actions to be developed by the Government of the Azores in terms of decision-making, through an intersectoral Strategic Action Plan.

On the other hand, the government official said the Government will continue to "vigorously" defend the safeguarding of the Azores' interest in the base document on the planning and management of national maritime areas, whose deadline for assessment by the National Assembly has been extended.

Luís Neto Viveiros also highlighted the "regional, national and international" interventions undertaken by the Government of the Azores, through the Regional Directorate for Sea Affairs, in a strategy that involves the important research developed by the Department of Oceanography and Fisheries of the University of the Azores.

Since last week, the Azores have assumed the coordination of the national working group on protected marine areas, following a decision taken in Vilm, Germany. This group will convey the positions taken by the Portuguese delegation at the Intersessional Correspondence Group on Marine Protected Areas (ICG-MPA) of the OSPAR Convention.

On the possibility of a future deep-sea mining exploration, Luís Neto Viveiros reiterated the positions publicly defended by the Regional Government at several forums in order to safeguard the environmental balance of ecosystems under the ongoing concession agreement and ensure that the socio-economic benefits arising from any activity accrue to the Region.