Funchal, Portugal, June 27, 2025 (Lusa) - Madeira has officially joined the jurisdiction of the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (the 'OSPAR Convention'), consolidating its “leading position” in ocean governance, the Regional Government announced on Friday.
In a statement, the Madeira government (PSD/CDS-PP) said that the ministers unanimously decided at the OSPAR ministerial meeting held in Vigo, Spain, on Thursday, stressing that it represents a “historic milestone” for the autonomous region.
"This is a historic step that projects Madeira as a benchmark in the governance of maritime affairs and affirms our role as guardians of the sustainability of the Atlantic Ocean," said the Regional Secretary for Tourism, Environment and Culture, Eduardo Jesus, quoted in the statement.
The government official believes that extending the OSPAR’s jurisdiction to the Macaronesia region, including the archipelagos of Madeira and the Canary Islands, will strengthen the biogeographical and ecological coherence of the convention, allowing for more effective and integrated action on the marine ecosystems of the North-East Atlantic.
Madeira will now have a seat at the table in discussions and decisions regarding scientific research, pollution control, conservation, and the sustainable use of the ocean, also opening up opportunities for funding and cooperation with regional research centres.
“It was a long and demanding process, but the consistency of Madeira’s public policies, its track record in managing marine protected areas and the excellence of our research centres were crucial to this recognition,” said the regional director for the environment, Manuel Ara Oliveira, as the press release quoted him.
He emphasised that the presence of rare species, such as the Madeira petrel and the Bugio petrel, two of the world’s most endangered seabirds, and the importance of Madeira’s waters as spawning and migration areas for species like the black scabbardfish, illustrate the biological importance of the region.
On the other hand, Macaronesia is a “key region” for critical global infrastructure, such as submarine cables, shipping routes and ocean currents, which justifies an “integrated vision of governance beyond national borders”.
The OSPAR Convention stems from the merger of the Oslo (1974) and Paris (1978) conventions and entered into force in 1992, with Portugal as one of the founding countries. It brings together 16 European states and the European Union, with an area of jurisdiction extending from the Arctic to the North Atlantic, including international waters.
‘With this extension, OSPAR’s jurisdiction now formally includes Madeira’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), strengthening the region’s presence in the international arena of environmental and maritime policy,’ emphasises the Regional Government, adding that OSPAR plays a "vital role" in preventing marine pollution, protecting biodiversity and defining strategies to address the challenges of climate change, invasive species, marine litter, maritime transport and offshore exploration.
DC/ADB // ADB.
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