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Azores produce largest marine safeguarded area in North Atlantic

storyp1> LISBON, Oct 18 (Reuters) The local assembly of Portugal's Azores Islands approved the production of the biggest protected marine location in the North Atlantic to reach international conservation goals well ahead of time.

The approval late on Thursday positions the archipelago at the leading edge of global ocean preservation that aims to accomplish the objectives set by the United Nations of safeguarding 30% of the Earth's land and sea by 2030 under a international pact adopted last year.

The network will include practically 300,000 square kilometres (115,830 square miles) and ensures the conservation of undersea mountain ranges and susceptible marine ecosystems, consisting of deep-sea corals, hydrothermal vents and marine types.

We have actually acted in advance of the global conservation objectives for 2030 with the development of the largest marine park in the North Atlantic, with totally secured areas and highly secured areas, Bernardo Brito e Abreu, advisor to the Azorean federal government on maritime affairs informed Reuters on Friday.

He explained that half of the network would be designated as a completely safeguarded location, which suggests fishing activities or sea tourism are not permitted. In the other half, designated as a highly protected location, just extremely selective fishing will be enabled.

The nine-island island chain is an autonomous area approximately 1,500 km (932 miles) west of mainland Portugal and home to unique marine biodiversity.

The Azores federal government chief Jose Manuel Bolieiro stated the area was leading by example at nationwide, European and global levels in the management and protection of its waters and making a significant contribution to Portugal fulfilling the global targets for the years.


(source: Reuters)