Azores Situation Report Wednesday 22nd November 2023

Travel allowance for pregnant women in the Azores extended to companions. 

Companions of pregnant women on islands without a hospital in the Azores will have access to a subsidy when traveling to another island for the birth, as of the entry into force of the next State Budget.

The “subsidy due to the need to travel to a hospital unit located outside the pregnant woman’s island of residence, to deliver the baby”, which was already granted to the pregnant woman, is now extended to the companion, who can be the spouse, living in a civil partnership or be a relative in the direct line or in the 2nd degree of the collateral line.

There are only hospitals on three of the nine islands in the Azores, so pregnant women from Santa Maria, São Jorge, Graciosa, Pico, Flores and Corvo must go to hospitals in São Miguel, Terceira and Faial to deliver.

PSP carries out Gunsmiths in Security operation. 

The Regional Command of the Public Security Police (PSP) of the Azores begins this Monday several inspections of gunsmiths in the archipelago, which will run until Friday, the police force announced.

In a statement, the PSP indicated that this operation, called Armeiros em Segurança, is part of the strategy outlined by the police “in terms of control of weapons, ammunition and explosives”.

According to the PSP, the activity of licensing weapons and explosives is carried out at a regional level “through the systematic use of all available technological resources, namely the Weapons and Explosives Information and Management System (SIGAE), which should and can be enhanced in inspection actions”.

New species of seafood discovered in the Azores with potential for exploration. 

A new species of shellfish was discovered in the Azores, in the bay of Praia da Vitória, in Terceira, a population of razor clams, the feasibility of exploitation of which “is now being studied by the Regional Government”.

The discovery was made by the Oceanic Studies Group and Naturalist – Science and Tourism, during the “Azores 2023” expedition.

This expedition, by the Oceanic Studies Group, specifically made it possible to discover a population of razor clams (Solen marginatus) in the bay of Praia da Vitória, on Terceira Island, in the Azores, details Naturalist, in a press release.

The discovery was made by Professor Alberto Machado, founder of the Oceanic Studies Group, during the “Azores 2023” expedition, which in partnership with the start-up MARE Naturalist – Science and Tourism, and in collaboration with OKEANOS (Institute of Research in Sciences do Mar), from the University of the Azores, “are committed to coordinating the mapping work and feasibility of exploring the species”.

The researchers believe that along with “the famous clams from Caldeira de Santo Cristo”, on the island of São Jorge, “the limpets and Caramujo, this could become a unique delicacy, a target for exploration and an alternative to the harvesting activity trade in the region, if properly regulated”.

According to Naturalist, Science and Tourism, an academic-based company in the Azores and founded by researchers from the University of Lisbon and the Azores, the feasibility of exploiting the new species “is now being studied by the Regional Government of the Azores, through the Regional Directorate of Fisheries “.

The company adds that a scientific publication has already been submitted with the results of the initial campaign and a proposal has been put forward to the Regional Government to finance a study on its distribution and abundance to support the taking of management measures for sustainable exploitation.

Until further information, the collection of the new species “is prohibited”, warns Naturalist.

 

 

The Azores Situation Report Wednesday 18th October 2023

Captaincy and Navy try to identify object found on Vila Franca islet 

Navy divers, supported by the Port Authority of Ponta Delgada, are trying to identify an object that was discovered near the islet of Vila Franca do Campo, Azores, and which could be a mine, it was revealed today.

“We heard about this find, a ferrous object of some size and spherical shape, early yesterday afternoon [Monday]. As a precaution, as it could be a mine, it is necessary to check what type of object we are talking about. It could just be a very old mooring buoy”,

As a precaution, he stressed, the area around the islet of Vila Franca do Campo was closed, which is prohibited from “any activity or navigation”.

Captain Rafael da Silva detailed that the object was found on Monday morning by recreational divers, but sea conditions did not allow the identification process to begin that day.

“At this moment we are finally able to dive to evaluate and recognize the object. (…) We are fortunate to have the support of the Portuguese Navy, with two divers specialized in this type of matter who serve in command of the Azores Maritime Zone”, he stressed.

The divers are being supported by the military, Captaincy vessels and the Maritime Police.

Rafael da Silva did not want to comment on the antiquity of the object and considered it “untimely” at this point to put forward a date for the end of the process.

If the existence of a mine is confirmed, the captain of the Port of Ponta Delgada highlighted that the deactivation of the device will be carried out by a detachment of Navy divers specializing in explosives.

Civil Protection records 18 incidents on six islands in the Azores 

The Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service of the Azores recorded, from last Sunday until Monday morning, 18 incidents on six islands in the archipelago.

According to a statement from the SRPCBA, following the adverse weather conditions that caused a worsening of the weather in the archipelago, 18 incidents were recorded in total, eight incidents on the island of Terceira, three in São Miguel, two in Pico, two in Santa Maria, two in Faial and one in São Jorge.

The situations reported correspond to falling trees, falling structures, damage to infrastructure, landslides and flooding of a house.

There was not any record of people being hurt or injured.

The following entities have been present at the locations to support and resolve the various situations: Firefighters, Regional Directorate of Public Works and Municipal Civil Protection Services, under the coordination of SRPCBA.

Ponta Delgada with action to reduce the number of homeless people. 

The local authority announces increased support for the population at risk of social exclusion, following reports of several cases in the city. Action is being coordinated with IPSS and the Institute of Solidarity and Social Security

After reporting several cases of homeless people spending the night in various parts of the city, the municipality decided to reinforce support for the population at risk of social exclusion. Thus, together with the entities, a solution will be identified that promotes a new start in life with more dignity and social appreciation for each homeless person.

“The strategy defined by Ponta Delgada City Council, in conjunction with the entities involved, aims to ensure that no one must remain on the street due to the lack of alternatives, the existing responses in the municipality are being expanded, through work in cooperation with all institutions that intervene with this phenomenon, to respond to the new challenges presented by the population at risk of exclusion and promote social cohesion in the municipality of Ponta Delgada”, reads the statement.

This intervention is part of the municipality’s set of actions to address this issue. Recently, it signed a protocol with the Novo Dia Association to finance the “Fora de Horas” project, which aims to involve a street team, during the night, to work directly with homeless people in the city of Ponta Delgada.

According to the study “À Margem – trajectories of street life, presented in 2022 and carried out by the Novo Dia association, the Azores have the highest rate of homeless people in the country, with two homeless people for every thousand inhabitants . Of the 493 flagged on December 31, 2020, 373 were from the island of São Miguel. The municipality of Ponta Delgada had 70% of all homeless people in the Azores

 

The Azores Situation Report Wednesday 11th October 2023

Delta launches first Portuguese coffee produced in the Azores. 

Delta launched the first Portuguese coffee entirely produced in the Azores, an archipelago that has “very favourable conditions” for “extreme quality” production, as revealed today by the group’s executive president.

“The most special thing of all is making the impossible possible. Europe does not have the climatic and land conditions to produce coffee. What we called it was ‘Impossible Coffee [Café Impossível]”, said Rui Miguel Nabeiro in statements to the Lusa agency.

And he added: “Europe, being one of the largest consumers, did not produce coffee and now it has become possible to produce coffee in Europe, particularly in Portugal and the Azores”.

Delta Cafés announced today in Lisbon the launch of the Azores coffee batch, which resulted from a partnership between the Government of the Azores and the Association of Azorean Coffee Producers, which will be available in “Delta The Coffee House Experience” stores.

The group’s executive director recalled that the “dream” of producing coffee in Portugal began in 2018, when the company joined International Coffee Partners.

That year, Delta became aware of the existence of small coffee producers in the Azores and the following year it promoted a study to “understand which coffee species” were most suitable for the Azorean climate, an investigation that resulted in a report delivered to the regional executive.

“Over the last four years, we have been supporting all small coffee producers in the Azores. At this point, as there is already some coffee, we ended up being able, commercially, to launch a batch with 100% Portuguese coffee, 100% coffee from the Azores”, he highlighted.

The coffee now available is Arabica, but Rui Miguel Nabeiro highlights that the Azorean islands can produce other types of coffee.

“The Azores have a very favourable climate. It is a very humid climate, with constant rain and mild temperatures. The volcanic land itself, which we would think would make plantation difficult, ends up having, at the end of these last four years of studies, optimal conditions to produce at least six species of coffee,” he stated.

Wine in Azores celebrates 15 years of promoting wines and products across borders. 

‘Wine in Azores’, which takes place from the 20th to the 22nd of October, in Ribeira Grande, in the Azores, celebrates 15 years, in an event designed to promote wines, meat and fish across borders, was announced today.

The event organized by Gorgeous it’s Azores takes place at the São Miguel Exhibition Park, located on the premises of the Associação Agrícola de São Miguel, in Santana, and has a tasting area and a restaurant area with bars, gin tasting and sales of wines, in addition to the presence of regional and national ‘chefs’.

For the person responsible for the organization, Joaquim Coutinho, “having managed to create a successful event like this over 15 years is special”, adding that “the growth of tourism in the Azores has resulted in an increase in the presence of tourists at ‘Wine in Azores’.

1st edition of solidarity trail in the Military Zone of the Azores 

The Military Zone of the Azores (ZMA) organizes on Sunday, in Sete Cidades, in São Miguel, in the Azores, an 18-kilometer trail race and an 11.5-kilometer walk, events open to institutions, clubs, sports organizations and population.

The initiative, takes place because of the celebrations of the 187th anniversary of the ZMA, which throughout 2023 will hold several events, covering the military, sporting, cultural and religious spheres, to promote “interaction with local institutions and the population in a more comprehensive way”.

The sporting event in Sete Cidades has a charitable nature, as the funds raised through the registration of athletes and participants will be donated to a Social Solidarity Institution in the municipality of Ponta Delgada.

 

Azores Situation Report Wednesday 4th October 2023

Graciosa is an “example island for the use of renewables”. 

The president of the Regional Government of the Azores (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM) considered that Graciosa Island is an example in terms of the use of renewable energy, a situation that also places the archipelago as an “example of the energy transition”.

José Manuel Bolieiro, within the scope of the statutory visit to the island of Graciosa, visited the ‘Graciolica’ project today, a hybrid energy system that integrates a wind farm, a photovoltaic plant and a battery plant and, due to its energy production capacity, admitted that it is of “an example of the energy transition” that is being carried out in the Azores.

He mentioned that the island already has a “magnificent” track record in the combined solution of wind and photovoltaic energy and noted that “there are already long periods, magnificent periods, of 100% renewable [energy] use for distribution on the grid”.

“What turns Graciosa into an island that is an example of the use of renewables, decarbonization of our economy, reduction of carbon emissions and, why not say so, also placing the Azores as leaders in the example of energy transition”, he stated.

The head of the Azorean executive highlighted the fact that the executive he leads is trying to ensure that the electrical transition is carried out in production and also in consumption habits, with the transition in electrical consumption, to reduce thermal solutions for daily use in homes, vehicles and industry.

Graciolica’s hybrid energy production system began producing electricity and supplying it to Graciosa Island on August 21, 2019.

During the visit of the president of the Government of the Azores, the operational director of Graciolica, Duarte Silva, informed that the island of Graciosa has, on average, 143 days per year in which the electrical supply is made by renewable energy and, on average, “every three calendar years there is a year” in which the energy consumed is “100% renewable”.

“These numbers, I think make this project unique in the world. Because, in fact, the renewable percentage of 60%, there may eventually be islands that already accompany us, but having a third of the year 100% renewable is a differentiating aspect that we have not yet found in other places”, he declared.

Since the project began operating, 8.9 million liters of diesel have been saved at the Eletricidade dos Açores (EDA) hydroelectric plant and, between July 18, 2019 and August 31, 2023, 8.2 million litres of diesel were saved. millions of euros.

The Graciolica project was supported by the Government of the Azores with 4.5 million euros as non-refundable funds and 2.9 million as refundable funds.

The Government of the Azores ends today a two-day statutory visit to Graciosa Island.

According to the Statute of the Azores, the Regional Government must visit each of the islands in the archipelago at least once a year, with the obligation to meet the Government Council on the island visited.

Dog collected for alleged mistreatment in Ponta Delgada 

An American Pit Bull Terrier dog was collected in Ponta Delgada, in the Azores, on suspicion of “mistreatment and lack of living conditions”, the PSP announced today.

According to the PSP Regional Command, the situation occurred on September 29th in the parish of Fajã de Cima, “with the suspicion that a dog showed clear signs of malnutrition and lack of living conditions”.

The police determined that there was “material of a criminal nature”, having raised “a report for the commission of the crime of mistreatment of pet animals, as well as material of an administrative nature” related to the registration, insurance, vaccination and housing conditions of the animal, reads a statement from the PSP.

Thus, considering “safeguarding the well-being of the canine”, the Police Inspection Brigade, in collaboration with the Municipal Kennel of Ponta Delgada, collected the animal, which is currently “in complete safety and with dignified and adequate nutritional conditions, hygiene and habitability”, adds the PSP.

Altice Portugal and Thothx reactivate teleport on the Azorean Island of São Miguel 

Altice Portugal and ThothX will reactivate a teleport on the island of São Miguel with deep space radar capabilities, the two companies announced today in a joint statement.

According to the companies, the space sector is “considered to have great potential for the future, particularly in the areas of security and space communications, central to this project, which includes the remodelling of a 30-meter telecommunications antenna, located on the island of São Miguel”.

The rehabilitation of the teleport and the conversion of the antenna “will contribute to the observation of space traffic in geostationary orbits and to the safety of European space assets”, says the statement.

“This agreement reinforces, on the one hand, the position of Portugal as a strategic European telecommunications’ ‘hub’ and the Azores archipelago as an Atlantic ‘hub’ for Space and, on the other, Altice’s strategy as a ‘player’ in the communications map and gateway to Europe, connecting continents by space, air, land or submarine”, he adds.

For ThothX, a world leader in the data transmission sector, this project is part of a “global coverage strategy with a 46-meter antenna operational in Canada, the remodelling project for a 30-meter antenna in Australia and the remodelling of the Azores to achieve 95% coverage of geostationary orbits”.

According to the press release, “several Portuguese R&D (research and development) institutions have already signalled interest in a potential future collaboration in radio astronomy studies, an aspect of great importance for the company, whose collaborations with the Canadian academy have been going on for some years”.