The extension of the special zone of the islands Berlengas is half of the recommended area.
Portuguese society for birds study (SPEA) regrets that the Portuguese government has not used the knowledge and recommendations of the scientific community to extend the special protective zone of the islands Berlengas. The approved proposal fell short of expectations, as the government sanctioned only half the size recommended by the original opinion submitted by biologists who over four years and in partnership with the "Life Marine IBAs", collected data in order to overcome the lack methodology provided for these marine areas.
The Institute for Nature Conservation and Biodiversity, the state entity that regulates and exercises authority for the conservation of the environment and natural resources, declined to appoint any technical reason that avoid declaring the entire area proposed by the scientific community. SPEA remember that the designation of an area as a marine special protective zone does not imply any change in economic uses (fisheries, tourism, energy, etc..) That may exist in the area, but only reinforce the need for sustainable use of them. Luis Costa, director of the society, regrets that "Portugal again miss an excellent opportunity to lead the protection of the sea, since the methods used by SPEA throughout the Project LIFE Marine IBAs are now the benchmark for many other European countries and the World and are not used in their own home. "it also points out that there are over 16 marine IBAs waiting to be declared as SPZ in Portugal, reiterating that they continue to call for their immediate protection, in addition to the recent extension for designated Berlengas.
