Cabo Verde Fishing Industry and cold storage
Cold Storage Crisis Threatens Cabo Verde's Fishing Industry
The absence of adequate cold storage infrastructure has emerged as a critical bottleneck in Cabo Verde's fisheries sector, constraining export potential and forcing hotels to import seafood despite abundant local catches. Yet this deficiency presents substantial investment opportunities as the archipelago seeks to modernise its "blue economy".
Infrastructure gaps undermine sector development
The current state of cold chain facilities reveals severe inadequacies across the islands. The fishing port of Praia and the fish market in Mindelo lack operational cold storage, with Porto Grande in São Vicente remaining the only harbour equipped with a functional cold storage facility. This shortage creates substandard hygiene conditions that fall below food safety requirements, resulting in high post-harvest losses. Fishermen and traders are compelled to sell catches immediately, with little incentive to invest in refrigeration when demand outstrips supply.
Inter-island transport compounds the problem. Ship owners reportedly disconnect power to refrigerated containers to save fuel, compromising perishable cargo quality. This prevents local products from entering supply chains serving the tourism-oriented islands of Sal and Boa Vista, where hotels instead import frozen prawns and fish fillets.
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Export dependence highlights strategic importance
Despite infrastructure deficits, cold storage remains essential to Cabo Verde's economy. Frozen and processed fish, particularly tuna, accounts for over 70% of the country's goods exports in certain years. The sector concentrates heavily on a few enterprises, notably the "Complexo de Pesca" in Mindelo. State port operator Enapor plans to reactivate the cold storage platform there following the departure of Spanish operator Atunlo, a facility crucial for storing and processing tuna destined for European markets.
The inadequate cold chain forces hotels and resorts, which demand high food safety standards and consistent supply, to import fish and seafood rather than source locally—a missed opportunity for domestic producers.
Green technology and international backing create openings
Cold storage has been identified as a primary area for future investment and international cooperation. Investment plans include ice factories and cold storage in ports such as São Filipe on Fogo island, with capacity for 25,000 tonnes, and Mindelo, with 1.5 hectares designated for cold chain facilities.
Investors are urged to consider facilities near harbours and blockchain technology for traceability to meet EU buyer requirements.
Blockchain in this context functions as a digital record-keeping system that tracks fish from catch to consumer. Each step—when the fish was caught, how it was stored, what temperature it was kept at, and who handled it—is recorded in a tamper-proof digital ledger. European buyers increasingly demand this transparency to verify that seafood meets safety standards and sustainability certifications, making it essential for exporters seeking access to premium markets.
To reduce high energy costs and improve sustainability, solar-powered cold storage and refrigerated transport have been proposed. Integrated projects for alternative income suggest investments in solar-powered facilities to increase value creation. The World Bank has highlighted "greening" the cold chain as a strategic objective applicable beyond healthcare to fisheries.
International cooperation is expanding. Under the 2025-2027 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation action plan, support has been pledged to build African capacity for cold chain transport. The European Union is financing projects to improve ice facilities and desalination infrastructure.
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