Good evening, everyone.

It is an honour to welcome our friends and neighbours from the Azores, including the esteemed President of the Azores, Mr. Jose Manuel Bolieiro, to Bermuda. We are thrilled to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the first Portuguese arrivals in Bermuda—a milestone that highlights the profound ties we share. Thank you for travelling here to join us in commemorating our history and future.

Bermuda and the Azores share a deep connection, extending beyond our shared history and into our environments, cultures, and identities. We are bound by the Atlantic and the vibrant, life-sustaining Sargasso Sea, which brings us together as one ocean community. Bermuda is home to an Azorean community that continues to enrich our island, strengthening a heritage that includes our maritime traditions, fishing, and respect for nature.

Our islands are interconnected in unique ways. For example, our celebrated national bird, the Cahow, travels to the Azores to feed, while whales and sea turtles migrate between our waters. These animals know no borders, reminding us that marine life is a shared responsibility, and their protection requires a unified approach.

Shared Vision for Ocean Conservation

Bermuda and the Azores are leaders in marine protection, both driven by a commitment to preserve the ocean. The Sargasso Sea Commission was established in 2014 with the signing of the Hamilton Declaration, here in Bermuda. The purpose of this Commission has been to promote the protection of the high seas, with the creation of a system of high seas marine management. The Sargasso Sea is a two million square nautical miles of ocean ecosystem bounded by the circular current of the North Atlantic Gyre.  It serves as a major feature of the Atlantic, supporting pelagic fish and sea turtles, and acting as a spawning area for two species of eels that migrate from marine breeding grounds to freshwater in Europe and North America. Additionally, it functions as a migratory corridor for sharks, manta rays, and whales.

The link between Bermuda, the Azores and Sargasso Sea is inescapable. Firstly, we both occupy the North Atlantic. Secondly, there are five major currents that circle the Sargasso Sea including the Canary, Equatorial, Antilles, the Gulf Stream and the AZORES CURRENT! We are connected! Lastly, the Azores is in an original signatory to the Hamilton Declaration. Currently Dr. Ana Calaco, a Deep Sea Ecologist at the University of the Azores sits as the Azorean Commissioner. A scientist of international regard. 

The Commission has played a significant role in the international effort to protect the High Seas. Its contributions have undoubtedly aided in the recent success and broad approval of the High Seas Treaty, officially known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Treaty (BBNJ). Both Bermuda and the Azores have been at the forefront of this important movement.

The Azores and Bermuda are working hand in hand, fostering sustainable growth in our plans to shape blue economies. With that in mind, I want to congratulate the Azores Government on the remarkable achievement of protecting thirty percent (30%) of their waters through Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). This network, the largest in the North Atlantic and Europe, is a testament to the Azores’ dedication to ocean stewardship through the science-based and highly participatory Blue Azores program.

In Bermuda, we are taking similar steps through our Blue Prosperity Plan, which represents the culmination of a four-year collaborative effort with community input at its heart. This plan will create 90,000 square kilometres of Marine Protected Areas, ensuring the complete protection of twenty percent (20%) of our waters, while enhancing fisheries management.

A Shared Future

As islanders, we interact with the ocean in different yet profoundly personal ways. Our diverse perspectives help inform plans like our Marine Spatial Plan, which aims to protect marine resources and strengthen our economies. We gather here today to celebrate a shared and an active partnership in ocean conservation that will shape our shared future.

Let us be inspired by each other’s successes and support one another on the journey toward a healthier ocean. Together, we can protect our marine ecosystems and sustain our blue economies, proving that conservation and growth can go hand in hand.

Let us continue working together to honour our unique heritages while safeguarding the oceans that unite us.

Culture and Connection

In conclusion, with some personal reflections, I want to highlight the importance of culture. From Red Bean Soup, codfish and potatoes, codfish cakes, to Portuguese donuts (malasadas) and the shared value of family, Bermuda's identity has been profoundly influenced by those who have arrived since the ‘Golden Rule’ first came to our shores 175 years ago. The Bermudian identity has been shaped and enriched by all who have joined this community over the years. I personally can speak to this and am extremely proud of this connection and relationship we have to the Azores. We are one people of the Atlantic just as we have all become one people of Bermuda. This is a strong bond and long may this continue. Happy 175th Anniversary!!