A sweeping marine sanctuary declared this month by the Azores has won congratulations from the Bermuda Government, which is in the final stages of drafting its own marine protected area.

The island chain, an autonomous region of Portugal, has approved legislation creating the biggest such MPA in the North Atlantic.

The move safeguards 30 per cent of Azorean waters, or 287,000 square kilometres.

It comes as Bermuda seeks to protect 90,000 square kilometres or 20 per cent of its seas under its Blue Prosperity Plan, which underwent a final round of consultation ending last May.

Hailing the “groundbreaking” move by the Azores, Walter Roban, the Deputy Premier and home affairs minister, said that half of the Azorean MPA would be fully protected, with the other half designated “highly protected”.

He added: “The hard work of the Azores is inspiring and achieves an important milestone for marine protection.”

Mr Roban said the islands, which had “incredible connectivity” with Bermuda, shared Bermuda’s vision along with a history of reliance on the seas.

“Bermuda aims to advance our own marine protection plans to reach this global target ourselves,” he said.

Bermuda’s national bird, the cahow, nests on the island but includes the Azores in its wide-ranging feeding grounds, while the humpback whales that annually visit the island also call on Azorean waters.

Mr Roban noted that today marked the opening of the United Nations Biodiversity Conference, known as COP16, in Colombia, where attendees are to negotiate conservation targets.

He highlighted that in 2022, the previous such conference came with the Kunming-Montreal global biodiversity framework that set thresholds of 30 per cent protections for land and sea.

Although Britain was among the signatories, setting similar goals for its Overseas Territories, Bermuda opted for a 20 per cent MPA.

The ministry said an independent review panel had just given Mr Roban its feedback for consideration before finalising the Blue Prosperity Plan, which has faced pushback from some in the island’s fishing community.

José Manuel Bolieiro, president of the Regional Government of the Azores, said the islands hoped to inspire other regions to protect and manage their seas.

Mr Bolieiro is to attend Bermuda’s Portuguese Day Celebration next month — an event launched in 2019 in recognition of the deep ties between the islands after the first Portuguese immigrations arrived in Bermuda 175 years ago.

Mr Roban said: “We look forward to welcoming the President of the Azores and strengthening ties between our two regions.”