The «unpublished» proposal for the creation of the Natural Marine Park of Recife do Algarve – Pedra do Valado was delivered this afternoon to the Government, at the University of Algarve. The document was prepared through a “participatory process, over almost three years, involving more than 70 entities and based on solid scientific foundations.
The Oceano Azul Foundation and the Center for Marine Sciences of the University of Algarve (CCMAR – UAlg) are the entities that drew up the proposal and handed it over to the Ministers of the Sea and the Environment.
The Natural Marine Park of Recife do Algarve – Pedra do Valado will be located in the coastal area of the Municipalities of Albufeira, Lagoa and Silves, between the Farol of Alfanzina and the Marina de Albufeira, and extends to a depth of 50 meters, totaling 156 km2.
It is here that there is «the largest coastal rocky reef in the Algarve, a unique ecosystem on the Portuguese mainland, which benefits from natural conditions that favor a unique marine biodiversity and productivity. Nearly 900 species are found here, 12 of which are new to science,” according to CCMAR.
The project was built “through a participatory process, over almost 3 years and involving more than 70 entities and based on a solid scientific foundation”.
«Having been alerted by local entities on the need to simultaneously protect this reef and small artisanal fishing, the Oceano Azul Foundation and the Center for Marine Sciences of the University of Algarve, with the involvement of the Armação de Pêra Fishermen's Association, municipalities of Albufeira, Silves and Lagoa, and the Parish Council of Armação de Pêra, promoted and streamlined a participatory process with the aim of protecting and enhancing this reef», reinforced the Algarve research centre.
This participatory process took place over the last two years and «had the active involvement of professional and recreational fishing associations, representatives of maritime-tourism companies, regional, local and central administration, scientific research centres, sports federations, maritime authority, school clusters, non-governmental organizations and business associations'.
Six face-to-face sessions were held, more than 60 bilateral meetings, and a final session to present the proposed zoning and the bases for the regulation of this marine protected area.
«In 2018, the foundations were laid for the creation of a Marine Protected Area of Community Interest (AMPIC), supported by solid technical and scientific foundations and defined through a participatory, inclusive process, built “from the bottom up” that, by on the one hand, it protects and enhances this natural capital and, on the other, guarantees the interests and needs of the community on which it depends in the best possible way», explained Jorge Gonçalves, CCMAR-UAlg researcher.
"The final result of this process is a scientifically supported proposal, which incorporated to the limit the requests of different interests, therefore, as consensual as possible", he adds.
Tiago Pitta e Cunha, executive director of the Oceano Azul Foundation, considered that “protecting the ocean and creating conservation tools has never been so urgent.
Since Portugal is «owner of one of the largest exclusive economic zones in the European Union, it has the duty not only to monitor the issues and themes associated with the sustainability of the ocean, but also to promote its implementation, which may even have a fundamental role. leading these issues at the international level'.
“Marine protected areas, when properly designed and implemented, produce more fish, bigger fish and sustain a greater diversity of species. In turn, we can have a more valued economic activity, with greater return for fishing, a more sustainable tourism, valuing territories, activities and products from the sea», concluded Tiago Pitta e Cunha.
The proposal presented to the Government today reflects «the unequivocal will of the Algarve community to create a Protected Marine Area of Community Interest», CCMAR concludes.
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