To promote knowledge of marine habitats and biocenesis, in particular those existing in coastal bands, to obtain quantitative and qualitative information to establish an inical state and areas of occurrence (mapped). Establish monitoring programmes to maintain and/or restore coastal habitats.

Study, recast and manage monitoring networks to collect information supporting the characterisation of the marine environment, with the emphasis on situations requiring greater attention to maintain or reach Good Environmental Status and to those that may reveal the causal relationships between monitoring results and human activities.

Map and monitor the marine and oceanographic system at the scale of the subdivision (including area induced winds and waves induced by local winds, as well as open sea-and depth currents) in order to improve the assessment of the environmental conditions and energy potential of the various environmental descriptors, and to assist the decision-making processes.

Extending the Protected Area of Subdivision to the protection and conservation of priority species and habitats.

By 2021, set up and implement a network of marine and coastal protected areas of ocean Same target for subdivision of the continent: ABIPT-2-D6Cont (change of the Platt target. 1, 2012)

Obtain distribution maps of coastal and oceanic habitats and biotopes, as well as their environmental condition. In particular those which are classified and protected by OSPAR and the Habitats Directive of the Natura 2000 network, and those whose biological and ecological characteristics are considered as structuring benthic communities and/or vulnerable to human activities

To increase coverage of marine protected areas for benthic habitats and communities within the Azores subdivision by up to 10 %. At present, the Regional Government of the Azores is working on the revision of the statutory marine conservation system in order to clarify and simplify the competences, uses and regulations of Marine Protected Areas. The GRA will also reassess existing areas and plan the expansion of the protection area in 15 % of fully protected areas over the next 3 years (in line with Blue Azres Programme, a regional partnership, the Blue Foundation and the Waitt Institute). The aim is to develop management plans that facilitate reporting and implementation of regulations, monitoring and implementing processes to improve surveillance and surveillance in remote areas.

Reduce the use of impactful bottom fishing gear in benthic, coastal and oceanic communities, without affecting the profitability of fisheries.

Ensure that the exploitation of coastal aggregates does not affect the known maerl communities and those identified in the future.

Develop and implement appropriate monitoring methodology to obtain information to allow assessment of GES by 2024.