José Manuel Bolieiro opened €1.3 million project at São Mateus fishing port - Communication

Presidência do Governo Regional

The President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, opened today the new support facilities at the São Mateus da Calheta fishing port in the municipality of Angra do Heroísmo, representing an overall investment of €1.3 million, funded under the Azores 2030 programme.

The project is a tangible response to the needs of fishers in the parish of São Mateus, improving working conditions, processing areas, storage facilities and hygiene standards at the main fishing port on the south coast of Terceira Island.

The project was carried out on a 2,589-square-metre area located near the São Mateus fishing port, providing the fishing community with new facilities to support their activities.

The facilities now available include a shed with racks for preparing fishing gear, 12 new fishing gear stores, a car park, a bait preparation area, toilet facilities and several technical areas for operational support.

The head of the Azorean Government highlighted that this project falls within the Regional Government’s strategy to implement the investments set out in the RRP, Azores 2030 and MAR2030, emphasising that 2026 is “a year of great challenge and executive responsibility” for the Region.

The President of the Government emphasised that support for the fisheries sector is part of a broader policy of “modernising and enhancing” the Azorean blue economy, based on the energy transition, digital transition and the reduction of environmental impact.

“There is a strategy to ensure productivity, sustainability and income for the sector, contributing to the wider economy and to those for whom fishing is their way of life,” he stated.

José Manuel Bolieiro also stressed that the aim is to implement “assertive public policies” capable of generating wealth, guaranteeing a fair income throughout the entire value chain and ensuring balanced prices for consumers, whilst maintaining high standards of food quality and safety.

The President of the Regional Government considered that port infrastructure plays an essential role in the “economic autonomy” of fishing communities, the safety of seafarers and the competitiveness of the fisheries sector.

“Today, above all, we are highlighting the working conditions faced by fishers,” he said, emphasising that the Government has remained concerned about the working conditions of shipowners and fishers.

José Manuel Bolieiro also called for collective responsibility among users of the newly opened facilities, stressing the need to foster preservation and care for public infrastructure.

“The conditions are in place, but their use must ensure the necessary care to keep this infrastructure in good condition,” he pointed out.

The new infrastructure provides improved conditions in terms of hygiene, safety, efficiency and productivity, enhancing the port’s operational capacity and the relevance of the local fishing industry.

The head of the Azorean Government also praised the dialogue maintained with the sector’s representative associations and the ongoing consultation with fishing communities, at a time when the Regional Government has been defending fishing as a strategic priority, within the existing budget constraints.

José Manuel Bolieiro delivered a message of regional unity and confidence in the sector’s future.

“Investing in fisheries means investing in the economy of our coastal communities, local employment and the sustainability of the Azores seas,” he said.

The opening ceremony was also attended by the Regional Secretary for the Sea and Fisheries, Mário Rui Pinho, the Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, Berta Cabral, the Mayor of Angra do Heroísmo, Fátima Amorim, the Regional Director for Fisheries, Andreia Henriques, the Regional Director for Public Works, Pedro Azevedo, and the President of the Parish Council of São Mateus, Paulo Gomes.