69 beaches in the Algarve deserve this year's Blue Flag distinction, five fewer than last year, while in the Alentejo there are 24 awarded beaches, two more than in 2011.

By reaching 20 Blue Flags, Albufeira maintains its leadership in the Algarve and in the country in what is the most important environmental award related to the quality of the beaches.

This year, Lagoa did not nominate any beach for the Blue Flag.

In the country's total, there are 275 Blue Flag beaches this year, four more than last year, as announced this Friday by the Blue Flag Association of Europe (ABAE).

The number of Blue Flags awarded rose in the North, Centre, Tejo and Alentejo regions and declined in the Algarve, Azores and Madeira.

In the Algarve region, the instability of the cliffs is responsible for the decrease in the number of awarded beaches. José Archer, president of ABAE, admitted today at a press conference that the descent was due to the «lack of safety conditions on the beaches».

"These are beaches with safe areas, but they are beaches that, especially at high tide, have very reduced sand conditions and, therefore, people tend to lean against the cliff, which limits their safety," he explained. José Archer added that these Algarve beaches need some interventions so that they can again deserve the award.

Despite the decrease, the Algarve continues to be the country's region with the most blue flags (69), followed by the North (67), four more than in 2011, the Center, with 23 beaches (five more), the Tagus with 49 (four more) and the Alentejo with 24 beaches (two more).

The Azores and Madeira, like the Algarve region, also saw the number of blue flags decreasing this year, with 32 (one less) and 11 (five less), respectively.

As far as marinas are concerned, the Algarve is in full swing, with blue flags being hoisted in Vilamoura, Albufeira, Portimão and Lagos. In the country, 14 flags will be hoisted in marinas – in addition to the four in the Algarve, there will also be four in the Azores, three in the Alentejo, two in the Tagus and one in Madeira.

José Archer also underlined that «25 years ago we had 30 Blue Flag beaches [in the country], this year we have 275», explaining that this results from «the work that has been done, of generations of education and behavior change».

Portugal is even one of the countries with the highest percentage of Blue Flag beaches, with 52,2%, guaranteed ABAE.

To sensitize the population to the use of beaches, ABAE promotes on the 12th of this month a “human tide” on the beaches of the coast, inviting all citizens to appear on a beach to learn “how people should behave and everything that goes on on a beach”, in terms of water quality and biodiversity, for example, that they know how to behave during the bathing season.

The Blue Flags are awarded annually to beaches and recreational ports that meet a set of criteria of an environmental nature, safety and comfort of users, information and environmental awareness.

Algarve:

Albufeira (20):

Salgados, West Galé, East Galé, Manuel Lourenço, Evaristo, Castelo, Coelha, Arrifes, S. Rafael, Aveiros, Oura, East Oura, Santa Eulália, Maria Luísa, Olhos de Água, Barranco das Belharucas, Falésia-Açoteias, Falésia -Alfamar, Rocha Baixinha West, Rocha Baixinha East

Aljezur (3):

Odeceixe, Monte Clerigo, Arrifana

Bishop's Village (6):

Cordoama, Castelejo, Mareta, Martinhal, Ingrina, Zavial, Salema, Almádena/Cabanas Velhas, Burgau

Lakes (6):

Luz, Porto de Mós, D. Ana, Camilo, Potato and Meia Praia

Portimão (4):

Alvor Poente, Alvor Nascente/Tres Irmãos, Vau e Rocha

Silves (2):

Armação de Pera and Praia Grande Poente

Loulé (10):

Vilamoura, Quarteira, Forte Novo, Almargem, Loulé Velho, Vale do Lobo, Garrão Poente/East, Ancão and Quinta do Lago

Faro (4):

Faro-Sea, Barreta, Island of FaroXNUMX-Sea, Breech-Sea

Eye (2):

Armona-Mar and Fuseta-Mar

Tavira (4):

Barrel, Terra Estreita, Island of Tavira-Mar, Cabanas-Mar

Vila Real de Santo António (4):

Rotated Blanket, Auction, Monte Gordo and Saint Anthony

River Beach:

Catch Fund (Alcoutim)

Marinas:

Albufeira, Lagos, Portimão and Vilamoura

Alentejo:

Large (9):

Tróia-Mar, Tróia-Galé, Tróia-Bico das Lulas, Atlantica, Comporta, Carvalhal, Pego, Aberta Nova and Melides

Santiago do Cacem (2):

Santo André Coast and Cortiço Fountain

Sines (6):

Vasco da Gama, São Torpes, Morgavel, Vieirinha, Praia Grande and Ilha do Pessegueiro

Odemira (4):

Praia das Furnas, Almograve, Zambujeira do Mar and Carvalhal

Marinas:

Tróia Marina and Sines Recreational Port

River Beach:

Reservoir of Tapada Grande (Mértola)