Regional Government and Hydrographic Institute sign protocol for technical and scientific cooperation in marine research
The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology highlighted in Lisbon the importance of networking among regional and national scientific institutions in areas such as marine research, praising the "cooperation work" between the University of the Azores and the Hydrographic Institute.
Gui Menezes spoke on the sidelines of a visit to the Hydrographic Institute of the Portuguese Navy, where he signed a protocol for technical and scientific cooperation intended to strengthen research in the Azores.
The protocol now signed between the Regional Secretariat for the Sea, Science and Technology and the Hydrographic Institute aims to promote "cooperation and collaboration" between both entities in the marine environment, through "bathymetric surveys, fund mapping, training activities or possible joint research and monitoring of projects to support public policies, among others."
In this regard, the Regional Secretary emphasised the "great importance" of the Hydrographic Institute as "national reference institution" with regard to "scientific and technological knowledge in hydrography, oceanography, navigation, marine geology and nautical cartography."
Gui Menezes stressed that "ocean research, observation and monitoring, namely the deep ocean, requires very large investments."
According to the government official, the mapping and study of the Azores Sea is "a huge challenge" in terms of technological and scientific means. Therefore, he stressed "the need to work together and optimise means that contribute to an in-depth knowledge of this vast oceanic area."
Moreover, the government official highlighted the importance of the work being developed by the Hydrographic Institute in the Azores, especially in terms of "oceanographic campaigns for bathymetric and topographic surveys as well as the mapping of biodiversity and resources in marine ecosystems."
The hydrographic vessel "D. Carlos I," property of the Portuguese Navy, started this year to map the bottom of the Azores, using technologies that the Region does not have, such as multi-beam technologies for bathymetric surveys and updating of nautical charts.
This year, the vessel "D. Carlos I" covered an area of 33,200 km2, totalling 6,900 miles, at depths between 200 and 4,000 metres. There are new campaigns planned for 2018 and the following years in the Azores Sea.