The Regional Secretary for Science, Technology and Infrastructures advocated today the need for a defence strategy of the Azorean marine resources through a joint action between decision-makers and the scientific community. Hence, we need to take decisions based on scientific knowledge to support and protect "our sea from the new pirates" of the Atlantic. We must all unite and bear in mind that the Azores should be, once again, in the first place."

José Contente presided over the opening session of the seminar "Knowing the Azores Sea", which takes place in Horta today and tomorrow, and considered that we should continue to defend three fundamental pillars regarding a proactive promotion and interest of regional interests in sea affairs: knowledge, spatial planning and mapping.

With regard to knowledge, the government official emphasised the strong investment made by the Government in the area of scientific research, mentioning the application for 60 doctoral grants, of which 30 are related to maritime affairs.

As for the other two pillars, the Regional Secretary said that a great deal of research has been conducted by the Department of Oceanography and Fisheries (DOP) at the University of the Azores. This "demonstrates the interest of the scientific community in the sea and marine resources, which is strongly supported by the Regional Government."

At the seminar that is also a scientific forum to support decision-making, the government official admitted that "as person who has studied geology, he was not very keen support on the extension of the continental shelf. In my opinion, this was done with the idea that the borders of the continental shelf would have to reach out our waters where there is no granite; there are other rocks that do not exist in the continental shelf."

José Contente said that the resolution no.9 of 2005 , which defined the mission structure for the extension of the continental shelf, has widen its scope to maritime affairs at a national and international level. In the Azores, the sea has always been considered as a vital natural laboratory for the knowledge economy.

"Taking into account our geography and economy, we have increased responsibility in being innovative and proactive in the in uncompromising defence of our resources," added the Regional Secretary.