The National Strategy
In accordance with the Centre for Applied Studies of the Catholic University, the economy of the Sea, considering its indirect effects, is responsible, in Portugal, for 11% of GNP, 12% of employment, 17% of indirect taxes and 15% of the trading margins in the Portuguese economy.
Portugal has one of the largest Exclusive Economic Zones of Europe, with more than 1,700,000 Sq.Km, which corresponds to 18 times its land area.
Portugal has, in this large maritime area, a unique natural heritage (some of the more important oceanic ecosystems of the world are located in it), and very relevant geological, mineral, biotechnological and energy resources.
With the Discoveries, Portugal lived moments of prosperity and development and decisively set the world’s economic, cultural and scientific reality.
It may even be said that the Ocean is the founding element of our identity.
In spite of these factors – historical, environmental and economic, the truth is that our heritage, bonded to the Sea, is still under exploited and that the links of the Portuguese with the Sea are affected by certain intangibility.
The Oceans Strategic Committee was set up in 2003 with the aim to reverse this trend. This Committee produced the Report “The Ocean, a national objective for the 21st century”, approved in 2004, containing approximately 250 proposals and action measures.
In 2005, with the current Government, the Mission Structure for Sea Issues was set up, and gave rise to the approval, in November 2006, of the National Sea Strategy.
This National Sea Strategy identified 8 strategic actions
In February 2007, the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Sea Matters was set up with the objective of coordinating, accompanying and assessing the implementation of the referred Strategy.
This Inter-Ministerial Committee will shortly approve a Detailed Action Plan in order that the National Sea Strategy is carried out.