Azores Creates North Atlantic's Largest Ocean Sanctuary

José Manuel Bolieiro still remembers the watchful gaze of a moray eel from his teenage diving days in the Azores. That early connection to the ocean would eventually inspire him to create the largest marine protected area network in the North Atlantic.

The president of the Azores regional government championed legislation that now protects 287,000 square kilometers of ocean around the Portuguese archipelago. That's more than three times the land area of Portugal itself, safeguarding home to dozens of whale and dolphin species, sharks, turtles, and rare deep-sea ecosystems.

The new network officially launched on January 1, 2025, surpassing the previous government's goal of protecting 15% of waters. Bolieiro pushed for 30% protection by 2030 and delivered ahead of schedule.

Growing up on São Miguel island, Bolieiro spent his teenage years freediving in the Atlantic. He describes the underwater world as a place of "maximum tranquility" where life passes before your eyes in silent beauty. Those formative experiences shaped his environmental values long before he entered politics.

The victory almost faced an early setback. Just two weeks after the network launched, opposition lawmakers proposed opening fully protected zones to traditional pole-and-line tuna fishing. Bolieiro immediately began negotiations with all stakeholders.

His diplomatic approach found middle ground. The revised proposal keeps fully protected areas completely off-limits to fishing while allowing pole-and-line methods only in "highly protected" zones with less ecological sensitivity. Parliament approved the compromise, preserving the network's integrity while respecting traditional fishing communities.

The Ripple Effect

The Azores achievement positions Portugal as a global leader in ocean conservation. In May, Bolieiro will receive a Peter Benchley Ocean Award in California, nicknamed the "Oscars for the Ocean," for excellence in national leadership.

The network protects critical habitats including seamounts, hydrothermal vents, and coral ecosystems. These underwater features support incredible biodiversity and play vital roles in ocean health far beyond the Azores waters.

Bolieiro acknowledges the work continues. Monitoring, enforcement, and securing adequate funding remain priorities. Working with fishing communities on implementation will require ongoing dialogue and collaboration.

The president says he rarely dives anymore due to time constraints. But his teenage connection to the ocean continues driving his conservation work, proving that early experiences in nature can create lifelong advocates for its protection.