Protecting Marine Areas in the Azores, Portugal

Protected Areas (MPAs) are increasingly seen as essential for preserving marine biodiversity while supporting local communities. These legally protected zones, which span oceans, estuaries, and lakes, are key to safeguarding vulnerable ecosystems and species.

Portugal has recently created Europe’s largest MPA network, providing important protections to the unique underwater ecosystems of the Azores. Fifteen percent of the waters around this Portuguese archipelago are now fully protected, with an additional fifteen percent designated as highly protected, covering a total of 287,000 square kilometres.

This Copernicus Sentinel-2 image, acquired on 18 January 2023, provides a rare partially cloud-free view of the protected waters south of the islands of São Jorge, Faial, and Pico.

The Copernicus Sentinel satellites and services, particularly the Copernicus Marine Service, provide a wealth of data essential for monitoring the fragile ecosystems of the Earth’s oceans. This information is key to the design and implementation of sustainable marine policies.