Blue Azores Programme

The Blue Azores Programme was born in 2019 from a partnership between the Regional Government of the Azores, Oceano Azul Foundation and the Waitt Institute, which came together around a common vision – to protect, promote and value the marine natural capital of the Azores – which supports an ambition to ensure a healthy ocean as the basis of a prosperous and sustainable blue economy.

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Blue Azores programme objectives

1. Effectively implement the 287,000 square kilometres of the Azores Marine Protected Area Network, that protects 30% of Azorean waters with 15% fully and 15% highly protected as determined by RAMPA (Decreto Legislativo Regional n.014/2024/A, on December 24).

2. Fisheries restructuring measures to guarantee the sustainable use of available ocean resources.

3. Revision and implementation of the coastal network of MPAs and its integration in RAMPA.

4. The establishment of a mechanism that ensures the long-term financial sustainability of the Azores Marine Park and its effective management.

Blue Azores represents a model of marine conservation on a global scale, placing the restoration and enhancement of the marine environment at the heart of the North Atlantic. With the Regional Government’s leadership, a solid scientifical basis and an extensive participatory process, the Blue Azores programme involved Azorean Sea users in an unprecedented collaborative work carried out through multiple meetings with representatives from different sectors from 2021 to 2023, leading to the co-creation of the Azores Marine Protected Areas Network (RAMPA).

In 2024, Blue Azores reached a significant milestone, when the Azores created the largest network of Marine Protected Areas in the North Atlantic. This Network benefits people, nature, and the economy, and is grounded in the best available science.

The Azores Marine Protected Areas Network aims to protect 30% of the sea surrounding the archipelago, covering 287,000 square kilometres and ensuring that roughly half of this area is fully protected, where no extraction of natural resources will be permitted.

The programme is currently working in the implementation phase of the Azores Marine Protected Areas Network (RAMPA) and working on integrating the coastal areas, ensuring the active participation of the communities and the development of the management and planning strategies needed to guarantee its effectiveness.

In February 2025, the Azores secured over 10 million euros in funding to implement the Marine Protected Areas Network, marking a decisive step for global ocean conservation. This funding and technical support, established through a Memorandum of Understanding between the Regional Government of the Azores, Oceano Azul Foundation, and the Waitt Institute, will strengthen the protection of the Azores’ marine ecosystems and vital natural resources. The Blue Nature Alliance, a global partnership driving large-scale marine conservation, will also provide technical and financial support, contributing to the long-term sustainable success of the network.

About the Azores

The Azores are a Portuguese archipelago made up of nine volcanic islands located in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. The Azorean Sea covers an area of approximately 1,000,000 km², representing 55% of the waters under Portuguese jurisdiction and around 15% of European waters.

This region encompasses some of the most important, unique, and fragile island, oceanic, and deep-sea environments. The newly approved network of Marine Protected Areas creates a sanctuary for marine life — including sharks, fish, whales, deep-sea corals, and unique hydrothermal vent ecosystems — contributing to a healthy ocean that supports the blue economy and the well-being of Azorean communities.