Portugal Leads Marine Protection With New Designated Area
In a groundbreaking move, Portugal announced the establishment of a new protected marine region around the Gorringe Ridge, set within the vast Atlantic Ocean. This significant development aims to elevate Portugal’s status as a frontrunner in achieving global conservation objectives. The decision coincides with the United Nations’ Oceans Conference in Nice, where nations deliberated on strategies to further safeguard marine ecosystems.
The initiative introduces the Gorringe marine protected area (MPA), located approximately 200 kilometers off Portugal’s southern coastline. This addition, along with two forthcoming smaller areas, is projected to increase the proportion of Portugal’s protected marine regions from 19% to an impressive 27%. According to Portugal’s Environment Minister, this statistic underscores the nation’s leadership in marine conservation, especially within Europe.
The expansion of MPAs is central to the UN conference’s agenda, aligning with efforts to encourage more countries to endorse the 2023 High Seas Treaty. This treaty offers a much-needed legal scaffold to shield biodiversity in international waters. To date, 51 countries have affirmed the treaty, approaching the threshold of 60 that will render it legally binding.
Globally, as of the most recent assessments, only 8.4% of marine and coastal regions are safeguarded, which is significantly behind the target of 30% protection by 2030. The Portuguese government anticipates finalizing the MPA creation through a decree in the ensuing months. Details regarding the total area and specific fully-protected zones—prohibiting activities such as fishing—are still under discussion.
Emanuel Gonçalves, the chief scientist at the Oceano Azul Foundation, played a pivotal role in the process, having collaborated with the Portuguese navy to map the area. Their data-driven recommendations contributed significantly to the government’s decision. Gonçalves envisions the proposed MPA sprawling across 100,000 square kilometers, which is equivalent to 38,610 square miles.
This expansive MPA, if entirely protected, promises to functionally connect diverse marine features such as seamounts, abyssal plains, and open ocean. It would serve as a vital refuge for species that are highly mobile and migratory, as well as for deep-sea habitats. Gonçalves elaborated on the MPA’s potential to foster nurseries and feeding grounds for species including turtles, sharks, marine mammals, sea birds, and tunas. Additionally, this sanctuary may help expand or restore kelp and coral forests and will provide a unique breeding habitat for torpedo rays.
Notably, this initiative follows Portugal’s creation of the largest protected area in the North Atlantic last year, which spans almost 300,000 square kilometers around the Azores archipelago, with half of that area enjoying full protection.
The efforts to bolster marine protection are part of a broader, collaborative approach to conservation that could serve as a model for nations globally. With the establishment of the new MPA, Portugal is not only preserving its rich marine biodiversity but also setting an example for other countries to follow. This progress holds promise for the sustainable management of marine resources, which is critical for both ecological balance and the maintenance of marine-related economies.
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