The commander of the Southern Maritime Zone has already ordered the green flags to be hoisted again on the beaches between Ilha Deserta and Açoteias (Albufeira), reopening them for baths, after the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) this morning raised the « not recommended for bathing' in these bathing areas.
In statements to the Sul Informação, Commander Cortes Lopes said that the situation of the so-called “red tide” is already outdated, having given the order for the green flags to be hoisted again on the beaches under its jurisdiction, that is, as far as Vilamoura. On the beaches of the municipality of Albufeira, the Council will take this decision, as it has the beaches under its jurisdiction.
In a statement published on its website, the APA clarifies that "given the evolution of the situation and in view of the results of the analyzes carried out by IPMA and the information from the Regional Health Authority, that cases of poisoning in humans by the identified toxin are not described, it proceeds to a survey of the inadvisability of bathing on the beaches between Ilha Deserta and Praia das Açoteias».
However, he clarifies, «although the microalgae stain has already started to dissipate, in areas where there is still some density, the Portuguese Environment Agency maintains the advice that bathing should be avoided, especially by children and vulnerable groups ».
He also recalls that, «following the appearance of microalgae with great density on the 17th of June, the APA, through its ARH do Algarve and in conjunction with the Regional Health Authority» had advised against it, as a precaution, and in a first phase , bathing on the beaches between Ilha Deserta and Quarteira.
In the following days, and with the displacement of the spot to the west, the advice against it covered an area that extended to Açoteias beach.
Yesterday, the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) had explained that «the appearance of a red tide in the area of Faro/ Praia da Falésia is due to the presence in high concentrations of lingulodinium polyedrum, a dinoflagellate that may produce isotoxins (marine biotoxins)'.
However, adds the IPMA, "there are no known poisonings in humans due to the consumption of molluscs contaminated with this biotoxin."
“Under less favorable conditions this microalgae forms resistant cysts that settle in the sediments; If there are favorable currents, due to some resuspension process for the water column, and because they find a set of ideal oceanographic conditions, such as a higher water temperature (summer values for the Algarve), the cysts germinate, forming this proliferation».
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