Coastal Ocean Use Mapping Project

The  Blue Azores program  is a partnership between the  Regional Government of the Azores ,  Oceano Azul Foundation , and the  Waitt Institute  to support the protection of 30% of the Azorean sea. It is the goal of Blue Azores to optimize the existing marine protected area (MPA) network while developing and implementing management plans for new MPA’s. The planning process will utilize the best available science while considering the interests of stakeholders and their knowledge of the sea to enrich the process and optimize solutions for resource use and conservation. The Coastal Ocean Use Mapping project is a government-led initiative through the Blue Azores program, guided by in-country and international experts, designed to produce spatial data characterizing coastal ocean use.

During implementation of the Coastal Ocean Use Mapping project, 1,977 individual respondents submitted 2,483 sector responses representing 5,050 individuals using the SeaSketch mapping tool.

• “Individual respondents” indicates the collective number of individuals who directly interacted with the survey tool.
• “Sector responses” indicates the total number of unique responses received in each sector of ocean use, as many respondents recorded use in multiple sectors.
• “Individuals represented” indicates the cumulative number of people represented, including those reflected through group responses.

Data collected in phase 2 is summarized below for each island.

Pico is a central island of the Azores archipelago. According to the 2021 census, it has a total population of 13,880 people residing in 3 municipalities. 4 locally based individuals were hired and trained to facilitate survey responses over an 8-week period of implementation from 18 April – 13 June 2022. In total, 376 sector responses were collected from 333 respondents representing the ocean use patterns of 861 individuals in Pico, which exceeded the population target of 203 individuals.

Out of 333 total respondents, 272 disclosed their age. Ages ranged from 5 to 68, with a mean age of 39. Of the 282 respondents who disclosed their gender, 33% identified as female and 66% identified as male.

Heatmaps which summarize survey responses collected in Pico in each sector of ocean use with 3 or more shapes drawn are shown below. The number of shapes input into each heatmap are reported in the caption (“N”).

Faial is a central island of the Azores archipelago. According to the 2021 census, it has a total population of 14,334 people residing in a single municipality. 3 locally based individuals were hired and trained to facilitate survey responses over an 8-week period of implementation from 18 April – 13 June 2022. In total, 163 sector responses were collected from 111 respondents representing the ocean use patterns of 485 individuals in Faial, which exceeded the population target of 68 individuals. 

Out of 111 total respondents, 82 disclosed their age. Ages ranged from 20 to 80, with a mean age of 41. Of the 87 respondents who disclosed their gender, 24% identified as female and 76% identified as male.

Heatmaps which summarize survey responses collected in Faial in each sector of ocean use with 3 or more shapes drawn are shown below. The number of shapes input into each heatmap are reported in the caption (“N”).

Graciosa is a central island of the Azores archipelago. According to the 2021 census, it has a total population of 4,091 people residing in a single municipality. 4 locally based individuals were hired and trained to facilitate survey responses over an 8-week period of implementation from 18 April – 13 June 2022. In total, 168 sector responses were collected from 134 respondents representing the ocean use patterns of 225 individuals in Graciosa, which exceeded the population target of 67 individuals.

Out of 134 total respondents, 92 disclosed their age. Ages ranged from 17 to 83, with a mean age of 39. Of the 99 respondents who disclosed their gender, 35% identified as female and 65% identified as male.

Heatmaps which summarize survey responses collected in Graciosa in each sector of ocean use with 3 or more shapes drawn are shown below. The number of shapes input into each heatmap are reported in the caption (“N”).

Heatmaps which summarize survey responses collected in all islands for the Aquaculture, Energy Development, Touristic Fishing, Scientific Research, Technological Development and Environmental Monitoring, and Defense and Security sectors are shown below.