Blue economy sectors

The aquaculture sector in the Azores aims to contribute to the creation of business niches associated with aquaculture products, providing opportunities for social development and employment and, at the same time, increasing regional productivity without increasing the extractive pressure on fishery resources. The sector is still developing in the Region, and conditions are still being defined for the exercise of the activity on an experimental or scientific basis.

The strategy for the sustainable development of aquaculture based in quality products and limited quantities and without degrading the environment. The aim is to create conditions for the sustainable development of aquaculture of salt, brackish or sweet water species, appropriate to the existing natural conditions in the Region.

The maritime-port sector is responsible for around 70% of international trade and plays a fundamental role in the development of the Region. The importance of maritime transport, namely cargo, led to the development of port infrastructures, which assume on all islands a fundamental role in the flow of goods in and out. This is the main means of transporting goods, both for connections abroad, namely to Madeira and the Portuguese mainland, as well as inter-island connections. Passenger shipping works all year round in the central group and service is extended in the summer months to all other islands.

Maritime transport developed steadily over time regarding freight transport. Unloaded merchandise follows the economic business cycle and the oil price, freight cargo follows a very steady path and reflects the exports of food, wine and other goods. Annual passengers in the islands are near 600,000; not including cruise ships.

In 2019 the annual consumption was around 743 GWh. Production was 38.3% from renewables and local resources, but all islands have different energy mixes. They are all non-connected and depend on fossil thermal generation to ensure energy quality and face a challenge to add more renewable energy. Islands have well established geothermal energy running (São Miguel and Terceira). They all face and cope with harsh climatic conditions and are challenged with high winds (i.e., 213 km/h; Flores, 2014), heavy precipitation with the risk of floods and landslides. Climate change will aggravate these risks and create new ones, challenging the region.