The Regional Government of Madeira has said the future D. Carlos Marine Nature Reserve will only advance if regional fishing can continue without disruption. The Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Environment and Culture described that requirement as essential and non-negotiable. In its statement, the Madeiran executive said it supports a conservation model that remains compatible with the Region’s economic and social reality. It also rejected any approach that would protect the ocean by undermining traditional activities that support families, communities and the regional blue economy. The government dismissed what it called extremist views or positions disconnected from Madeira’s Atlantic reality, arguing that ocean protection must rely on scientific knowledge, balanced management and the participation of fishing communities. It warned that without safeguards for traditional fishing, Madeira will not follow the process of creating the marine protected area. The executive concluded that conserving the oceans and defending fishermen are not opposing goals, but priorities that should be pursued together.
