The Azores archipelago, an autonomous region of Portugal, has established a sprawling 287,000 square kilometer marine protected area network—larger than the United Kingdom and the biggest in Europe. This October 2024 decision protects 30% of Azorean waters through a thoughtfully structured conservation approach that builds upon decades of ocean stewardship in this mid-Atlantic haven. “With this moment of concession, we are taking another important step in the history of the sustainability of human, animal and plant life on our planet,” emphasized José Manuel Bolieiro, President of the Regional Government of the Azores, during the February 2025 ceremony. A Framework Built … Continue reading Azores Establishes 287,000 km² Marine Protected Area, Europe’s Largest