The Government of the Azores, through Lotaçor, has launched a public tender for the improvement and expansion of Velas Cold Storage Unit on São Jorge Island, with a budget of one million Euros.
 
The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology considered that making investments to "improve the storage and conservation of fresh and frozen fish" in the archipelago is "fundamental." This will "raise their value and, consequently, increase the income of Azorean fishers."
 
Gui Menezes stressed the importance of improving the conditions of Velas Cold Storage Unit in terms of the freezer and refrigerator networks, considering that the current infrastructure is becoming "obsolete."
 
The Regional Secretary stressed that these improvement and expansion works are "an old claim of São Jorge fishers to which the Azorean Government will respond." In this regard, he regretted "the delays in the implementation of EMFF - Maritime and Fisheries Fund that prevented the tender from being launched earlier."
 
The investment comprises the general re-qualification of the building, including the construction of a new floor, with an area of 101 m2, for the installation of the entire administrative structure to support operations.
 
The Velas Cold Storage Unit will be equipped with a 40-tonne cold storage chamber for the preservation of frozen fish, a 25-tonne refrigerated storage chamber, a freezing tunnel with capacity of 10 tonnes per cycle and an air-conditioned area for the preparation and processing of fish, with an area of 40 m2.
 
This contract work, with a completion period of 12 months after the awarding, is the result of a commitment made by the Regional Government.
 
"The investment in the promotion of fish as a measure to boost the income of fishers has been and will continue to be one of the priorities" of the Regional Government for the fishing sector, assured Gui Menezes.