New national platform places the archipelago at the center of maritime gastronomy and the country’s blue economy ambitions

The Azores have formally taken on a leading national role in promoting Portugal’s maritime products, following the launch of the National “Sea Kitchens” Platform, a new initiative aimed at elevating seafood and ocean-based resources as pillars of the country’s economic and cultural identity.

The announcement was made at the Palácio da Conceição in Ponta Delgada, in a ceremony presided over by José Manuel Bolieiro, president of the Regional Government of the Azores. The platform emerges from a strategic partnership with AHRESP—the Portuguese Association of Hospitality, Restaurants and Similar Establishments—and is rooted in a protocol signed earlier this year during the BTL tourism fair in Lisbon.

According to the regional government, the initiative seeks to reposition marine resources at the forefront of Portugal’s development strategy, aligning gastronomy with sustainability and innovation within the broader framework of the “blue economy.”

For Bolieiro, the decision to base the platform in the Azores represents recognition of what he described as the archipelago’s defining “maritime identity.” “This central role enhances not only the region, but the country as a whole,” he said, framing the project as both a cultural and economic milestone.

On the ground, the platform will translate into a range of initiatives, including the creation of a network of restaurants centered on local seafood, hands-on workshops, and the rollout of a “Live Restaurant” concept—an immersive culinary experience to be replicated across multiple municipalities and islands.

The launch event brought together key stakeholders, including AHRESP president Carlos Moura and regional secretaries Berta Cabral and Mário Rui Pinho. Bolieiro emphasized that while the Azores remain competitive in sectors such as dairy and meat production, the ocean offers a distinct and strategic advantage.

“To host the national headquarters of the Sea Kitchens platform is, above all, to offer visitors an authentic experience rooted in the sea and in our local products,” he said.

The regional leader also called on municipal governments to work closely with business owners, urging a coordinated effort to transform gastronomy into a defining experience—one capable of attracting visitors, fostering loyalty and strengthening the Azorean economic fabric.

In Diário da Lagoa, Clife Bothelho-director

Translated into English as a community outreach program by the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL), in collaboration with Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno. PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.