Vision | Portugal must accelerate the process of planning the maritime space of the Azores
The study by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) analyzes, in addition to Portugal, the maritime spatial planning plans (MSP) of the other member states of the European Union in the northeast of the Atlantic Ocean (Spain, France and Ireland). ), taking into account an ecosystem-based approach.
Although Portugal obtained the highest rating (46.2%) of the four, “its performance is still below” what the WWF considers necessary to classify the country as “partially-”, to which a specific plan contributes. to the Azores archipelago.
The MSPs of the various countries were in agreement with four — inclusion of nature, socio-economic indicators, good governance of the ocean and scope of the maritime process — and, on average for each of the countries, Spain ranks second best (39.6%) , followed by France (34.2%) and Ireland (32%).
Portugal, which has the largest undivided economic zone in the EU, was one of the few countries that presented maritime spatial planning plans within the deadline set by the European Directive that required them, but the national MSP has not yet been applied exclusively in the Azores, which represents 57% of the Portuguese EEZ.
The WWF report explains that, when the Portuguese MSP was developed, it was up to the regional governments to deal with the outermost regions, Madeira and the Azores, and that in the case of this archipelago the start of the process was delayed.
The delay “compromises the country’s ability to meet the European Union’s protection and navy goals,” he said.
“In addition to the unique dimension and marine marine life”, geostraté of its migratory and maritime species of marine species, sheltering as unique waters “some species of its migratory species of marine waters”, sheltering the unique waters “some species of its migratory species from Earth “related different, including blue whales and sperm whales”.
At the same time, the archipelago has “a diverse and growing set of maritime activities, including fisheries, tourism and scientific research, as well as other emerging sectors such as biotechnology and renewable energies”, and is expected to host the largest Protected Maritime (AMP) ).
“France, Portugal and Spain accelerate the MSP process regarding their outermost regions to ensure their unique natural heritage is preserved in the face of global and regional challenges such as rising sea levels and overfishing”.
In the French case, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, Réunion and San Martin are at stake, and in Spain, the Canaries.
According to the report of the W report, the way forward for the four States is “unique enforcer of the length of a W approach, the unique space of an organization’s environment that allows all environments of the environment within the limits of ecological activities to be allowed in all economic zones within ecological activity boundaries, including all economic zones within ecological boundaries, including all term boundaries. as outermost regions”.
Promote and improve “cooperation between participating States and the processes adopted and adhere to the strategies adopted by the EU” and to adopt “cooperation with EU adopted countries” and in partnership with EU adopted countries that are not part of the best. The European bloc, so that maritime space plans are coherent and coordinated across the region.
The international non-governmental Belgium also analyzes in the study the MSPs of the member states in the North Sea (Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Northern Countries and Countries), concluding that the national plans in both regions do not guarantee “a sustainable blue economy in the EU and the recovery of nature”.
The submarine plans report has an answer to the uncertainties of climate change, “despite high sea temperatures already disturbing mackerel and Atlantic catches between 1989 and 2017”, the report states.
“The science is clear: climate crises and biodiversity are taking a toll on fishing in the biggest fishing market in the world and it’s been a while,” said WWF European Ocean Policy Officer Antonia Leroy, quoted in the press release. report.
Leroy considers that they are “myopic of the member states whose economies depend on human seas reality” and that ignore that “in the way they manage their maritime zones”, adding that it is “irresponsible (…) for the workers”, both the direct ones and the supply chain. supply.
“A radical overhaul is needed in future planning processes to mitigate crises and protect our blue economies”, he argues.
PAL // ZO