Despite the «aligned strategy to seek to mitigate tourist seasonality, betting on other niches, such as golf, wine tourism or birdwatching», the sun and the beach «continue to be the main reason for visits to the municipality». That is why the quality of the water on the beaches along the coast of Lagoa is «so important», said Luís Encarnação, mayor of Lagoa's Municipal Council today.
The mayor spoke at the end of this morning, during the hoisting of the flag "Quality of Gold 2023", on the beach of Nossa Senhora da Rocha, one of the six bathing areas of the municipality to receive this award given by the environmentalist association Quercus, based on official data from the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA).
«The quality of the water on our beaches depends on the quality of wastewater treatment», added Luís Encarnação.
António Eusébio, president of the company Águas do Algarve, pointed out, by the way, that that was «a very important moment» for the company because this Gold flag «represents the effort» that AdA makes «to maintain the quality of the waters» .
Paula Nunes da Silva, from the board of Quercus, explained that the «award aims to congratulate all the work done throughout the year». The raising of the “Gold Quality 2023” flag is therefore a «symbolic moment».
Pedro Coelho, regional director of the APA, highlighted the «effort of the Câmara de Lagoa to improve the quality of its bathing water, made together with us and Águas do Algarve».
After recalling the «investments under way to make beaches more resilient», Pedro Coelho classified as «a challenge» the «conquest of this flag and the blue flag in the largest number of beaches».
The municipality of Lagoa, recalled the head of the APA, has "small, recessed beaches, very vulnerable to mass movements", that is, landslides. For this very reason, to guarantee the «safety of users», that Agency has already promoted, this year, two dismantling of endangered cliffs on the coast of Lagos, one of them next to the iconic Praia da Marinha.
Rodrigo González dos Paços, commander of the port captaincy of Portimão and of the Maritime Police in its area of influence, added that the Maritime Authority is "a partner, in terms of security, to contribute so that the beaches keep all these awards", being responsible for the «safety of bathing activities», but also «of maritime-tourism».
Distinguished with the “Praia de Ouro 2023” flag, Nossa Senhora da Rocha beach is one of the six bathing areas in the municipality of Lagoa awarded this year by Quercus, confirming the excellent quality of its bathing waters.
At the start of the 2023 bathing season, Quercus classified, based on the official public information provided by the Portuguese Environment Agency, a total of 394 beaches with Golden Quality in Portugal (46 less than in 2022), of which 328 are beaches coastal, 56 are river beaches and 10 are transitional beaches.
In the Algarve, 85 coastal beaches were distinguished with this award: 21 beaches in Albufeira, 12 in Vila do Bispo, 10 in Loulé, 8 in Aljezur, 6 in Lagoa (Caneiros, Carvoeiro, Ferragudo/Praia Grande, Senhora da Rocha, Vale de Centeanes and Vale de Olival), 5 in Vila Real of Santo António, 4 in Faro, in Silves and Tavira, 3 in Castro Marim, Lagos and Portimão, as well as 2 in Olhão.
Photos: Elisabete Rodrigues | Sul Informação
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