The Azores are an archipelago that, although located precisely on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, due to its proximity to the European continent and its political integration in the Portuguese Republic and the European Union is generally included in Europe.
The archipelago is located in the northeast of the Atlantic Ocean between 36º and 43º North latitude and 25º and 31º West longitude. The closest territories are the Iberian Peninsula, around 1 400 km to the east, Madeira to 930 km to the southeast, São Pedro and Miquelon to the northwest, 2 200 km to Nova Scotia to 2 400 km to the northwest and Bermuda to 3 100 km southwest. It integrates the biogeographical region of Macaronesia. The geographical coordinates of the main locations in the Azores are as follows:
Fishing activity, measured by fish unloaded in ports, translates into volumes of around 10 thousand tons per year, which correspond to gross production values of around 26 million euros. Annually, there are specific variations in the conditions under which activities in the sector are carried out, with significant price fluctuations being observed.
The different varieties of more traditional fish («the rest of the fish» in the table below) occupy the most representative place, with the tuna fishing component being the one that is most sensitive to production conditions.
The number of registered fishermen is around 4 thousand and that of vessels around 1 600 units. Trying to observe the current trend of evolution of these productive factors, through some ratios, there will be a tendency towards an increase in size measured by the average tonnage per vessel and per registered fisherman.