Decree-Law No 166/2019 of 31 October 2009 established a new legal regime governing the professional activity of seafarers, in particular the rules relating to the training to which they are subject. This Decree-Law, in order to promote mobility, creates a common core in the deck area and therefore the opportunity to include in the basic training of all seafarers a module addressing the environmental issues covered by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, in particular the problem of incidental capture of protected species, seabed integrity and marine litter. On the other hand, the monitoring of incidental catches of a number of sensitive species is an obligation under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), through Council Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 of 20 June 2019, which refers, in particular for cetaceans, to the monitoring of vessels with an overall length of 15 or more and which operate bottom set gillnets. This monitoring can be ensured through various mechanisms, including voluntary declaration by vessel masters through the Electronic Fishing Log (ESD). Established by Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009, the ESD applies to vessels of 12 metres in length and over and is one of the data collection tools necessary for the management of the fisheries sector and for the verification of compliance with the rules of the CFP, and corresponds to reporting acts of fishing activities and operations. DGRM has developed a new DPE IT application which simplifies its completion by fishing vessel professionals and provides for the possibility of transmitting data on incidental catches of sensitive species. This measure is therefore intended to promote, through the training provided for the relevant categories (seamen, local master, coastal master and master of the high seas): 1) awareness of MSFD environmental issues among all fishing professionals (accidental capture of protected species, seabed integrity and marine litter); (2) the proper use by vessel masters of the tools available for monitoring and recording the incidental capture of protected species such as cetaceans, seabirds, turtles and elasmobranchs, in accordance with the MSFD monitoring programme published in 2022, which provides for the collection and analysis of data through the ESD; and (3) the adoption of good practices to prevent and mitigate the occurrence of incidental catches by those responsible for the government of fishing vessels (masters or masters). Tasks: 1. Include in the seafarer training curriculum a module to raise awareness of the environmental issues covered by the MSFD, including accidental capture of protected species and marine litter; 2. Include in training courses for seafarers, local master, coastal and high seas categories a module that includes the use of the electronic fishing logbook to report incidental catches of protected species, the adoption of good practices to prevent and mitigate (handling and discard) accidental catches of protected species and waste management; 3. Production and dissemination of teaching materials.

The measure aims to raise the awareness of children and young people, as well as the rest of the educational community, of the knowledge and preservation of the oceans, contributing to the promotion of more informed, responsible and participatory citizens and more aware of the strategic importance of the sea for Portugal. This general objective will be implemented through national, regional and local initiatives, and in particular through the Blue School programme, an educational programme of the Ministry of Economy and Sea, whose mission is to promote Ocean Literacy in schools. This programme seeks to distinguish and guide Portuguese schools in promoting structured and transversal Ocean Literacy projects, creating an Ocean Literacy Community that integrates schools, the sea sector, municipalities, universities and other entities active in marine education, seeking to integrate the various marine education actions carried out in Portugal into a single integrated strategy that can involve all actors involved in promoting ocean literacy in Portugal. Efforts are being made to encourage schools to work on relevant issues in their communities and to strengthen the link between the sea sector and the educational community. Tasks: 1. Provision of interdisciplinary educational resources adapted to the different education cycles and framed in the curriculum guidelines; 2. Provide accredited training for teachers of all stages of education; 3. Integrate the various marine education actions carried out in Portugal into an integrated strategy that can involve all actors around the promotion of Ocean Literacy; 4. Create conditions for the Ocean to be included in the national curriculum.

The 2014 programme of measures included a measure to protect the natural heritage and economic activities that depend on the seabed of the Portuguese Sea, by creating new marine protected areas (MPAs) in deep and large oceanic areas, namely two areas delimited according to the most important complexes of seamounts in the Portuguese Sea: 1) in the geographical area of influence of mainland Portugal and Madeira, including the Madeira-Tore geological complex, including the Tore, Ashton, Ormonde and Gettysburg (Gorringe Bank), Josephine, Hirondelle II, Lion, Unicorn, Seine, Dragon Seine. (2) south of the Azores archipelago, in a wide area comprising Atlantis, Tyro, Plato, Cruiser, Irving, Hyeres, Plateau, Great MeCont and Small MeCont. In this context, the MPA Working Group was set up in 2017 with a view to setting up a national network of MPAs (RNAMP) that is ecosystemically coherent (Order 1/2017 of 6 March of the Minister for the Sea). This WG carried out an assessment of existing and potential MPAs in maritime areas under national sovereignty or jurisdiction (territorial sea, EEZ and extended continental shelf) and made a set of recommendations concerning the definition of new areas and the management and monitoring of RNAMP, which were approved by means of SmPC No 143/2019 of 29 August 2009. However, it has not been possible so far to complete the political and administrative process of setting up the RNAMP or the designation of all the areas identified in the WG’s working report. Thus, the 2014 measure is maintained, assuming in this cycle the designation of MPAs that enable the target of protecting 30 % of the national maritime area by 2030 to be met, in particular those provided for in SmPC No 143/2019 of 29 August. At the same time, consideration will be given to strengthening coordination work with Spain to define a common methodology, including guidelines for the management and monitoring of MPAs, notably through the possibility of establishing a cross-border MPAs (PT-ES) located in the north-west of the Iberian Peninsula. Tasks: 1. Development and publication of specific legislation for the establishment of RNAMP; 2. Designation of new MPAs under the Order referred to in 1; 3. Inclusion of the above-mentioned MPAs in the OSPAR list; 4. Preparation of MPAs Management Plans; 5. Coordination with Spain for the definition of a common methodology, including guidelines for the management and monitoring of MPAs, in particular through the possibility of establishing a cross-border MPAs (PT-ES) located in the north-west of the Iberian Peninsula.

The CFP promotes exploitation of marine biological resources to restore and maintain populations of harvested species above levels which can produce the maximum sustainable yield (MSY), ensuring the appropriate management of all commercially exploited species. The measures for the conservation and exploitation of marine biological resources to be established under the CFP include, inter alia, multiannual plans, measures to adapt the fishing capacity of vessels to available fishing opportunities, the fixing and allocation of fishing opportunities (TACs and quotas), minimum conservation reference sizes, measures to reduce unwanted catches, landing obligations for all species subject to TACs, measures to comply with obligations laid down in environmental legislation, technical measures regarding the use, construction and characteristics of fishing gear. The AAR will continue to draw up the exploitation plans for demersal species identified in the 1th cycle programme of measures (MEA05-D3), in particular the determination of compatible fishing levels for responsible fishing and the continued implementation of appropriate management measures. This measure concerns the implementation of the management tools defined and adopted in this context to: Dummy: at meeting anual/2021 a reconstruction programme was implemented with the aim of immediately ending overfishing. This programme, which started in 2022, prohibits all fishing fleets from retaining on board, transhipping and landing, in whole or in part, the stock of North Atlantic Anequim caught in association with ICCAT fisheries. PT adopted the measure in January 2022; Blue marlin: reconstruction plan adopted in 2019 with the aim of ending overfishing and thus rebuilding the stock to reach levels of Biomass according to MSY. In 2022 the TAC of 1.670 t and the quota of 46.21 t for PT were established; White marlin: reconstruction plan adopted in 2019 with the aim of ending overfishing and rebuilding the stock to achieve Biomass levels according to MSY. In 2022 the TAC of 355 t and the quota of 19.50 t p/PT were established; Bigeye tuna: the Multi-Annual Plan for the Conservation and Management of Tropical Tunas implemented for the years 2020 and 2021 and at the meeting anual/2021 was extended to the year 2022. The objective of the Plan is to reduce the current levels of fishing mortality of tropical tunas. The TAC increased to 62.000 t in 2022 and the quota of 2 823.84 t p/PT was established; Yellowfin tuna: the Multi-Annual Plan for the Conservation and Management of Tropical Tunas implemented for 2020 and 2021, and at the Annual Meeting in 2021, was extended to 2022. The objective of the Plan is to reduce the current levels of fishing mortality of tropical tunas. The analytical TAC of 110.000 t p/2022 was maintained; Atlantic sailfish – The analytical TAC of 1.271 t east of 45° and 1.030 west of AR4045° was established in 2022; Sardines: currently, sardines do not have a recovery plan in place because this stock is recovered and d H38within the safe biological limits to be managed by a Management Plan; Bluefin tuna: multiannual Conservation and Management Plan for the AO39East Atlantic and Mediterranean Bluefin Tuna adopted in 2019 to maintain the sustainability of resources after several years in recovery. The plan provides for the TAC to be maintained at 36 000 T p/2022. The quota of 572.97 t has been established for PT; Blue jack mackerel (Trachurus spp.): Regulation (EU) 2022/109 provides for maintaining the precautionary TAC for blue jack mackerel fisheries in waters of CECAF (896 T); Squares (Patella spp.): in the subdivision of Madeira, this resource has been the subject of several conservation measures. In 2006, harvesting activity was regulated and the closed season was defined, with a ban on catches between 1-11 and 31-1. Continues in Progress