The Selvagens Islands are a landmark in the history of marine conservation in Portugal and worldwide. Located at the southernmost point of the national territory, this small archipelago became, in 2022, the largest fully protected Marine Protected Area in the North Atlantic, with 2,677 km² of ocean completely safeguarded from extractive activities.
This status of full protection is the culmination of decades of scientific effort, political commitment, and environmental vision. The Selvagens represent a true natural laboratory, where marine life can be studied in balance, and a global example of how remote areas can lead the ocean conservation agenda.
Two scientific expeditions — in 2015 and 2023 — played a decisive role in deepening knowledge about this area and in consolidating the expansion of its protection.
National Geographic Pristine Seas | 2015 Expedition
Organised by National Geographic Pristine Seas, in collaboration with ISPA – Instituto Universitário (Portugal), the Waitt Institute, and the University of Western Australia, this pioneering mission assessed the state of the marine ecosystems of the Selvagens Islands, including coastal zones and deep-sea areas.
The expedition concluded that the Selvagens are among the best-preserved marine ecosystems in Macaronesia, with high biodiversity, an abundance of fish, and no signs of human degradation.
Oceano Azul Foundation’s participation in this mission was part of a joint effort to advocate for the expansion of the protected area beyond the 200-metre isobath. The results obtained were essential to recommend full protection of the surrounding waters and to broaden the public discussion on the importance and benefits of fully protected Marine Protected Areas.
Expedition Selvagens 50 | 2023
As part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Selvagens Islands Nature Reserve, this mission involved 40 researchers from 28 institutions, led by the Institute for Forests and Nature Conservation (IFCN), with logistical support from the vessels Santa Maria Manuela and Goldmund.
Its goal was to establish a long-term Scientific Monitoring Programme to track the conservation status of marine species and habitats. Oceano Azul Foundation contributed to the study of subtidal fish, macroflora, and macrofauna communities, helping to characterise marine biodiversity between 10 and 20 meters in depth.
Following the decision of the Autonomous Region of Madeira in 2022 to expand the size and protection regime of the Selvagens Islands, the 2023 expedition reinforced the scientific foundation of this commitment and marked a new cycle of monitoring, ensuring that this Marine Protected Area continues to be studied, valued, and managed based on scientific evidence.
A legacy for the future of the ocean
The Selvagens Islands are a symbol of what can be achieved when science, politics, and society converge to protect the ocean.
Their full protection makes a decisive contribution to the global goal of conserving 30% of the ocean by 2030 and positions Portugal as a worldwide reference in marine conservation.
These expeditions demonstrate that research is the foundation of action, and that knowledge is the most powerful tool to protect the most valuable ecosystems of our blue planet.
Partners
Expedition 2015
Expedition 2023
