Portugal plans to reach 30% of marine protected areas by 2026, bringing forward the target of 2030, with the creation of the Madeira-Tore and Banco de Gorringe Marine Natural Reserve, whose preparation work should be completed in December.
“It is extremely useful for the environment, for nature, for biodiversity, but also for the sustainability of fishing, because these are true fish nurseries”, highlighted the Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, in statements to journalists.
With an area of approximately 200,000 km², covering the entire complex of seamounts and abyssal plains located between Cabo de São Vicente, in Sagres, and the Madeira archipelago – such as Tore, Sponge-Bob, Toblerone Ridge, Josephine and Ampère – the new reserve will allow Portugal to reach 30% of its marine protected area next year.
For now, the joint order of the ministries of Environment and Energy and Agriculture and Sea was published today, which determines, together with the Regional Government of Madeira, the start of the technical and legal procedures necessary for classification, which must be completed by December 10th.
A period of public consultation then follows and the Government’s expectation is that the creation of the new marine protected area will be consolidated in 2026.
“This will also have other added values, in terms of recreational boating, in terms of diving, all issues that contribute to our sea economy. We have a sea economy that represents 5% of our gross domestic product, but with this type of investment we can greatly increase this value”, also highlighted the Secretary of State for Fisheries and the Sea, Salvador Malheiro.
Once the target of 30% has been achieved, the Government plans to look later at the objective of 10% of fully protected areas.
“At the moment, we still have a low target – around 2% or 3% – because it takes longer to identify (fully protected areas), but that will be, after 30%, our ambition”, stated Maria da Graça Carvalho.
Asked about how these protected marine areas are being managed, the minister recalled the work carried out for the Pedra do Valado Marine Natural Park, in the Algarve, and for the Network of Marine Protected Areas of the Azores and which awaits the signing of the agreement with the Environmental Fund.
“There are then a series of obligations on the State and the autonomous regions to monitor and take care of this area. On our side, we will comply with all the rules, but we also have to pay attention to what is happening with foreign ships and, therefore, there is a lot of vigilance here that needs to be even more careful when it is a protected area”, he added.
European climate ambitions
Before the presentation of the Madeira-Tore Marine Nature Reserve and Gorringe Bank, the minister met with the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for a Clean, Fair and Competitive Transition.
At the end of the meeting, Maria da Graça Carvalho and Teresa Rivera highlighted the commitment made on Thursday by European Union (EU) leaders with climate ambitions until 2040, as an intermediate step towards carbon neutrality in 2050with a “pragmatic and flexible” strategy.
“It is a balanced proposal”, defended Teresa Rivera, referring to the European Commission’s proposal that foresees a 90% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions (compared to 1990 levels) as an intermediate step towards climate neutrality in 2050.
On the Portuguese side, the Minister of Environment and Energy mentioned, on the other hand, the possibility of meeting part of the target through international carbon credits between 2036 and 2040, up to a limit of 3% of the EU’s net emissions in 1990, highlighting that Portugal defends that credits start to be counted earlier, in 2031 and up to a limit of 5%.
“For us, time is more important, because we have several investments in third countries, such as debt conversion in Cape Verde, and we are also going to sign with São Tomé and Príncipe, and we would very much like it to start counting from 2031”, he explained.
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