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.

Para além das áreas terrestres, os Parques Naturais de Ilha englobam 34 áreas marinhas protegidas, situadas no mar territorial adjacente a cada uma das ilhas do arquipélago, já classificadas por diplomas regionais, bem como por instrumentos jurídicos internacionais. Esta medida consiste em elaborar os respetivos planos de gestão compatibilizados para essas áreas marinhas protegidas. Tarefas: 1 - Compatibilização de regras entre todas as AMPs; 2 - Consulta aos Stakeholders; 3 - Elaboração de proposta.

Este projeto tem por finalidade obter informação sobre as principais espécies de aves, peixes, tartarugas e mamíferos marinhos migradores e as suas rotas de migração com vista à seleção de espécies que se possam tornar bons bioindicadores do estado ambiental do ambiente marinho pelágico e dessa forma assegurar a continuidade dos ecossistemas. Tarefas: 1 - Seleção das espécies que serão alvo do estudo e estudos de biologia comportamental e populacional das mesmas; 2 - Colocação de marcadores para seguimento das espécies; 3 - Tratamento dos dados e elaboração do Programa de monitorização; 4 - Implementação do programa de monitorização; 5 - Tratamento dos dados e elaboração do Relatório Final.