“Faced with the Regional Government’s inaction, we will submit to parliament today a draft regional legislative decree to create a financial compensation regime for potential income losses caused by the expansion of protected marine areas,” said António Lima, the sole deputy of BE/Açores, at a press conference held at the São Miguel delegation of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores (ALRAA) in Ponta Delgada.
The regional coordinator of BE/Açores explained that in drafting the proposal, the party consulted with the Azores Fisheries Federation and the Free Fishermen’s Union.
António Lima indicated that the proposed financial compensation mechanism, which should be funded by the Environmental Fund, “applies to professionally registered fishing vessels in the Autonomous Region of the Azores for at least five years that (…) suffer losses due to the protected marine areas.”
Allocation of the compensation will be determined by a formula developed by a committee comprising various stakeholders and representatives from the sector, including a representative from the Regional Government’s department (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM) in charge of fisheries (who will preside), and members from the Fisheries Federation, fishermen’s unions, sector producers’ organizations, industry and fish traders, and the University of the Azores (specialists in oceanography and fisheries and in economics).
“This measure is crucial for the success of creating the Azores Marine Protected Areas Network,” admitted the BE/Açores parliamentarian.
António Lima noted that RAMPA will be enforced in September and was approved in the regional parliament in 2024, “without simultaneously ensuring a compensation regime for possible income drops in the law.”
He recalled that when the initiative was voted on, BE proposed amendments “to ensure compensation for fishermen’s income loss from the start,” but these were rejected by coalition parties and Chega.
Now, the hope is that the proposed regional legislative decree will be approved in the ALRAA, recognizing that “so many parties claim to be concerned” about the fishing sector and RAMPA’s implementation.
The President of the Azores Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, told Portuguese journalists in Nice, France, on the sidelines of the third UN Conference on the Ocean (UNOC3), that fishermen and shipowners will receive compensation for income loss.
The official stated that there is a commitment from the Minister of Environment that compensations will be provided “through the Environmental Fund, not even from the Autonomous Region of the Azores budget (…), we are aiming for 10 million euros, but it will be as necessary and demonstrated.”
Despite Bolieiro’s announcement, the BE/Açores leader stated that “nobody knows how and when the money will arrive,” nor who it is intended for, hence the need to “enshrine in law” the provision of compensation and the method of its allocation.
“What we have are commitments and promises. And, promises often get lost in the wind,” he remarked.
The Autonomous Region of the Azores has designated 30% of the surrounding sea as protected areas, covering 287,000 square kilometers.
According to the Regional Government, half of the total area will have full protection status, while the rest will have high protection status.
