The President of the Government attended the session for the installation of the first offshore aquaculture project in the village of Ribeira Quente, municipality of Povoação. He pointed out that this new area represents the "opening of new horizons for the profitability that the sea has to offer" in the Azores.
 
"What we are seeing here is the opening of new horizons to the profitability that the sea has to offer in our Region," said Vasco Cordeiro, after attending the presentation of four offshore aquaculture projects developed by the company Aquaazor. They were already approved and will be installed in defined areas in Ribeira Quente (São Miguel Island), Porto Martins (Terceira Island) and Feteira (Faial Island).
 
Speaking to journalists, the President of the Government said these projects clearly reflect the goals underpinning the Government's investment in this area, namely in terms of sustainability and in the involvement of local communities.
 
In this context, Vasco Cordeiro stressed that the integration of communities in the development of these projects ensures their positive impact on local economies.
 
"In regard to aquaculture practices for the production of algae and fish, this is an innovative project that implements the Regional Government's investment in the opening of this new sector," said the President of the Government.
 
Vasco Cordeiro also visited the works for the placement of buoys. On the occasion, he emphasised that the Government's involvement in this process also included the mapping of areas for offshore aquaculture installation as well as the availability of community funds under the Sea 2020 strategy.
 
The Government of the Azores has been investing in the aquaculture sector through various measures, including the creation of predefined areas for aquaculture production on the islands of Faial, Terceira and São Miguel.
 
The creation of these areas in 2016 resulted from the mapping of coastal and offshore areas with potential for aquaculture in the archipelago, which is available free of charge to interested entrepreneurs. The Regional Government conducted and funded the survey in 2015.
 
The approval of these areas allows investors to install and operate aquaculture production units, through simplified and faster procedure since not all projects will be subject to the necessary pre-installation process in any area that has not been previously established.