Beaches news in Portugal

Hundreds of people marched in Setúbal this Sunday to protest against the alleged privatisation of five beaches and natural areas within the Arrábida Natural Park. The demonstration, organized by the 'Hands off Arrábida' (Deslarrrguem a Arrábida!) movement, aimed to defend public access to coastal areas currently involved in legal disputes with the Herdade da Comenda estate. The Ministry of the Environment reiterated that these beaches remain part of the public maritime domain.

The Ministry of Environment has ordered the installation of maps at the entrances of beaches in the Algarve and Alentejo regions. These maps will clearly delineate concession areas, safety strips, and free zones to help beachgoers identify where they can place their parasols.

Authorities are conducting significant sand replenishment operations on beaches in Costa da Caparica to improve safety and coastal protection. Meanwhile, the Algarve region has committed approximately 20 million euros toward similar artificial sand projects to support the upcoming bathing season.

The National Maritime Authority (Autoridade Marítima Nacional or AMN) reported two deaths, 108 rescues, and 67 first-aid interventions on Portuguese beaches during May. Both fatalities occurred on beaches that were not under official lifeguard surveillance at the time of the incidents.

The National Maritime Authority (Autoridade Marítima Nacional or AMN) has closed the Dragão Vermelho beach in Costa da Caparica to swimming after a 24-year-old man drowned on Thursday. The area will remain restricted until artificial sand replenishment is completed to address ongoing safety concerns.

The Inatel and Pescadores beaches in Albufeira were closed to swimming on Tuesday following a wastewater discharge caused by a burst pipe. The Portuguese Environment Agency (Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente or APA) ordered the closure to ensure public safety.

The Portuguese government has announced that there will be two fewer operational beaches this year, bringing the total to 671. The Ministry of Environment and Energy stated that five locations were removed from the list due to safety risks, cliff instability, and damage caused by severe winter storms, despite some new areas being added.

A new report from the Portuguese Environment Agency (Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente or APA) reveals that 35 beaches in the Algarve suffered significant erosion during recent winter storms. Peneco beach in Albufeira saw the most dramatic change, with the shoreline retreating by 24 meters. The agency also warned of increased cliff instability across the region due to the severe weather. Algarve residents should be aware of potential safety hazards and restricted access at affected coastal sites this spring.