The Spatial Plan of the Coastal Area of Pico island is a spatial plan of territory that covers the littoral areas of the municipalities of Madalena, São Roque do Pico and Lajes do Pico. It presents the status of a national level regulatory instrument, binding public and private entities, aiming to protect natural resources and values and ensuring the perennial character of systems considered as crucial to the sustainable use of the territory.  The regulatory instrument establishes basic protection measures that will guarantee the thresholds of territory use and allow for renovation and enhancement of natural heritage. The objectives of this Coastal Area Spatial Plan are the following ones: i) environmental protection and enhancement of natural resources and landscape, particularly of water resources; ii) protection and enhancement of natural ecosystems that are valuable as far as the nature conservation is concerned, either in land or in maritime context; iii) minimization of environmental, social and economic risks and impacts; iv) classification and enhancement of beach areas; v) guidance of development of coastal areas specific activities;  vi) enhancement of the quality of life of the population; vii) improvement of transport and communications systems. The elaboration of the Spatial Plan encompassed a characterization and a diagnosis of the targeted area and the implementation of a spatial model applying the above mentioned objectives which is represented in the regulatory and programmatic pieces of the Plan. It has been approved by the Regional Regulatory Decree n.º 24/2011/A, officially published the 23rd November.