European speech. Dear Member of the European Parliament, Mr. Gesine Meissner;

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1 European speech (slide 1) Dear Member of the European Parliament, Mr. Gesine Meissner; Dear European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Mrs. Maria Damanaki; Dear Secretary General of the Sea from France, Mr. Jean-François Tallec; Dear State Secretary in the Ministry for Science, Economic Affairs and Transport of Land Schleswig-Holstein, Dr. Cordelia Andreßen; Dear Members of the European parliament; Dear Ladies and gentlemen; It is a pleasure to be here in this important seminar to talk about the Future of Marine and Maritime Innovation in Europe. The Government of the Azores congratulates the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe for the idea of this seminar and also to the other organizers, KDM and IFREMER. As associated to this event, the Government of the Azores, presently in the leadership of the Conference of the Presidents of the Outermost Regions, congratulates you and wishes that important and consequent results will outcome. (slide 2) My tlak will deal with the Role of Maritime Regions of Europe in the scope of the Future of Marine and Maritime Innovation???. (slide 3) First of all I would like to stress that: Maritime Regions of Europe are: becoming wider; going deeper; moving faster; crossing borders; communicating even faster; under permanent crisis; building innovative solutions; laboratories for sustainable development; certified best practices example. The example of the Azores! 1

2 (slide 4) Traditional use of the sea in the nine islands of the Azores was restricted to the area that one could see, for fisherman use and transportation from and to the mainland. This territorial sea is around 30 thousand square kilometers. (slide 5) Today, the Azores Economic Exclusive Zone is one million square kilometers and, taking into account the proposal submitted to the United Nations by Portugal, our sea will increase to 2.5 to 3 million square kilometers. (slide 6) We are going deeper in the water column and looking for new materials: Traditionally, fisheries would occur until 500 meters: Squid (200 meters depth); Wreck fish (500 meters depth). Going deeper: Fishing down the deep, Morato et al.; Black scabbard fish (700 meters depth); Mineral exploration (2000 meters depth); Scientific research (3000 meters depth). (slide 7) We are moving faster: Traditionally (until the April 74 PT revolution): Two main harbors, seven small and dozens of informal harbors; Nowadays: An array of a hundred harbors are used for transatlantic cargo and inner passengers transit (13), support for fisheries (plus 35) and accessibility for small touristic activities (plus 87). (slide 8) On the crossroads of the Atlantic: Horta: 5th marina of the world for sailing yachts; Oceanic cruise ships are frequent in São Miguel and Faial. The future will also include: Soon, oceanic cruise ships will also use Terceira; With the use of liquid gas for container ships: stopover in the middle of the Ocean will be necessary, and we are in the middle of the Atlantic; With the widening of the Panamá Channel: will increase of the geostrategic position of the Azores between Europe and America. 2

3 (slide 9) We are communicating even faster: Traditionally (beginning of the XX century): Faial island connected to the mainland by cable (crossroad of the Atlantic). Nowadays: The Azores are the main knot of the optic cables crossing the Atlantic; Seven of the islands connected by optical cable remaining two are planned. (slide 10) Crisis?! We are in permanent crises. It is almost as if we have a post degree on crises, and we know how to deal with it. This is a map of the earthquakes that occurred in the Azores in the last thirty days. Do not become alarmed. This is normal. Every day, somewhere in the Azores, there is an earthquake. Small normally. We have one big one around every 10 to 20 years. Volcanos only appear every fifty years. (slide 11) Invasive species are a huge problem when over a very sensitive environment such ours. This species covers large areas of Faial island. We are energically fighting back. (slide 12) Climate change is pressing coastal areas, and maritime regions are all about coastal areas (slide 13) Together with all stakeholders, we are building innovative solutions. Fisherman in the Azores, trust the Administration and Scientists, and are voluntarily opening new grounds for experimentation and development. In Corvo Island, challenged by a local young enterprise, they decided to not fish any more in a certain area. Today giant groupers are SCUBA dived. The profits are, per day, the same as if they were caught only once. (slide 14) 3

4 In Condor Bank, challenged by the regional scientific community, fisherman decided to not fish in a seamount near Faial island. They have abdicated to earn 700 thousand euros per year in order to test the Reserve Effect. An ensemble of dozens of experiences are now taking place under the main funding of the EEA grants and EU Programs. (slide 15) In the same place, taking advantage of the protected area, a not expected activity of blue shark observation as appeared. As it is the closest zone to Europe where you may actually dive with sharks, the activity is becoming extraordinarily successful. (slide 16) Observation of marine wild animals, in fact, as started in 1993, becoming a fruitful and more agreeable substitute to whale hunting. The Azores, according to a popular newspaper of England, is one of the ten best places in the world for whale watching. (slide 17) We have created the Marine Park of the Azores. This is an environmental protection law that protects areas beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone of Portugal. (slide 18) And we are Laboratories for Sustainable Development. The Pico wave energy prototype central was the first one implemented in Europe. Most of the European engineers working with alternative marine energies, have crossed their paths with this infrastructure. (slide 19) Deep sea hydrothermal vents are laboratories to test animal resistance to heat, chemical pollution, adaptation, remediation, speciation, taxonomy and so many other things. At this point, under the leadership of IFREMER, the University of the Azores and other institutions have a permanent observatory installed at 1700 meters depth in our sea. (slide 20) 4

5 We are certified not only because of our good environment, but also because of the good management approach that we have. In the Azores maritime area: Certified characteristics: 20 marine European Natura 2000 sites (Birds and Habitats Directive) + 2 open ocean IBA to be submitted; 2 Ramsar marine areas, for the importance of water; 11 OSPAR Marine Protected Areas; 33 within territorial sea + 11 open ocean Marine Protected Areas; 50 geosites in the GeoPark proposal (several marine). Certified management: 31 flag bathing zones and 14 accessible for handicapped; 90 Eco-Schools; One European Destination of Excellence Network (EDEN); 3 Biosphere reserves; QualityCoast: gold level. (slide 21) The conclusion is that the: Marine research and innovation are a priority for all Europe; Need for strong marine dimension in Horizon 2020 and need to a marine Knowledge and innovation Community in the framework of the European Institute of Technology; Synergies between Regions, Structural Funds and EU Priorities in the field of Marine innovation is needed; Approaches to the use of the oceans in the Regions should be sustainable, inclusive and equitative; Cooperation with Regions should avoid bureaucracy, be facilitated and rely on a strong political partnership with Regions based on trust; Maritime Regions of Europe are an extraordinary common asset, paying a special attention to them is increasing the opportunities for a happier, healthier and more resilient Europe! (slide 22) Thank you! 5