THE AZORES
Save The Waves is working to protect surf ecosystems and promote protected areas in the Azores Autonomous Region.
The Azores Surf Protected Areas Network (SPAN) is an ongoing effort and actively supporting the work of Blue Azores Program, an initiative of the Waitt Institute, Oceano Azul and the Regional Government of the Azores.
BACKGROUND
The Azores Autonomous region (PT: Região Autónoma dos Açores) is an archipelago of nine islands lying on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
The Azores archipelago consists of nine volcanic islands located in the North Atlantic Ocean approximately 1300km west of Portugal. Individual islands in the archipelago are spread across 650km and are commonly broken out into the following groups:
Western group: Corvo and Flores
Central group: Faial, Graciosa, Pico, São Jorge, and Terceira
Eastern group: Santa Maria and São Miguel
Its location makes it ideal for swells from both the southern and northern hemispheres. There is a significant surf culture and history, cultivated throughout many generations of locals.
In addition to supporting the Blue Azores Program, Save The Waves is working to supply information for the ongoing efforts of the Azores Surfing and Bodyboarding Association, the Azores chapter of Surfrider Foundation Europe, Terceira Surfing Association and other organizations working on coastal conservation locally.
You enter the ocean, and the ocean is the most democratic thing to exist.
André Avelar
Regional Coordinator, Azores
OUR GOAL
Our objective is to harness the power of the sport of surfing and surf communities to create additional marine protected areas in line with the IUCN 30 x 30 goals in the Azores and incorporate surfing into current protected area management plans.
Beyond The Wave: Preserving The Surf Ecosystem
Biodiversity
The Azores is one of the five Macaronesian archipelagos and sits within the Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot. The Azores are a refuge for both marine and terrestrial species - approximately 420 terrestrial endemic species of lichen, plants and animals have been identified - and are considered fundamentally important for biodiversity conservation.
Economy
The Azorean economy is largely dependent on its nature-based sustainable tourism with a well-founded and thriving fishing culture. In total, over 1,700 people were employed in the fishing industry and different artisanal fishing practices adopted by local communities in coastal areas.
DEEP DIVE
Surf Conservation Index
A report produced by Save The Waves.
The objective of the Surf Conservation Index is to prioritize individual site locations within the archipelago of the Azores Autonomous Region based on surf quality, human pressure and response, and key social and ecological indicators.
How will this report help protect surf ecosystems? It will:
- Identify activities that affect surf breaks and their surrounding environments.
- Facilitate Coalition-building between different groups of stakeholders
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
The Regional Profile of the Azorean Archipelago is the first part of a six-step process which aims to protect critical surf ecosystems throughout the island chain.
It gives a detailed description of the surf resources in the islands, provides critical information on biodiversity and the unique geography that creates surf ecosystems in the Azores, provides important information on the socio-economic aspects of surfing, and assesses the opportunities for conservation of surf spots within the context of ongoing Marine Spatial Planning processes.
SURF PROTECTED AREAS: LATEST NEWS
On the Ground Update: Two Major Wins for Surf Ecosystem Protection in Mexico
Port expansion within the Bahía de Todos Santos World Surfing Reserve blocked and Oaxaca Working Group for the Protection of Waves and Surf Breaks created.
Big Step Forward in the Azores: First “Municipal Surf Ecosystem Reserve” on Graciosa Island
The first Municipal Surf Ecosystem Reserve on Graciosa Island, Azores has been approved. This recognition constitutes a strategic measure for the protection and integrated management of the island’s surf breaks and natural resources.
New Global Guide Sets Best Practices for Protecting Surf Ecosystems
Three leading conservation organizations — Save The Waves Coalition, the Peruvian Society for Environmental Law (SPDA), and Conservation International — have released the “Guide of Best Practices for Surf Ecosystem Conservation,” the most comprehensive global resource of its kind, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
UNOC 2025: Lessons and Takeaways
CEO Notes from the Field: United Nations Ocean Conference, Nice, 2025. The vibe, our takeaways, lessons learned key events and what’s next.
