The Council of Ministers formalized yesterday the creation of the Rei Dom Carlos Marine Natural Reserve, in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula, and approved a decree-law that completes the conservation of the Banco Gorringe Special Area of Conservation.
In a statement, the Council of Ministers noted that one of the decree-laws approved formally created the Rei Dom Carlos Marine Natural Reserve, “one of the largest protected marine areas in the Northeast Atlantic, covering about 173,000 square kilometres,” which protects the Madeira-Tore Complex.
The complex lies southwest of the Iberian Peninsula, between Cape St. Vincent (Faro district) and the Madeira Archipelago, and is constituted by the Banco Gorringe, a large submarine seamount located southwest of Cape St. Vincent, about 200 kilometres from the Portuguese mainland.
“The new reserve protects the Madeira-Tore Complex and unique deep-sea habitats, including cold-water corals, coral gardens, sponges and endangered species,” according to the note.
The creation of Rei Dom Carlos Marine Natural Reserve, which will be Portugal’s largest Marine Protected Area by encompassing the Madeira-Tore submarine montes complex and Banco de Gorringe, was open for public consultation until last March.
The Council of Ministers also states that the decree ensures the reconciliation of biodiversity conservation with sustainable traditional fisheries and brings Portugal closer to the target of protecting 30% of its marine space by 2028.
The other approved decree relates to the Banco Gorringe Special Area of Conservation, an exclusively marine area of about 22,900 square kilometres.
The decree sets out the objectives and specific conservation and management measures for the area, aimed at protecting habitats and species of high natural value, ensuring compliance with the Habitats Directive.
The Habitats Directive aims to contribute to ensuring the conservation of vulnerable natural habitats within the territory of the European Union.
According to the statement, the decree reinforces the protection of the Banco Gorringe, in coordination with the creation of the Rei Dom Carlos Marine Natural Reserve.
