Algarve situation Report Wednesday 4^th August 2021

“Algae accumulation in the Algarve is “natural” and does not affect water quality”

– APA

Faro, 03 Aug 2021 (Lusa) – The large accumulations of algae in the sands and surf zones on some beaches in the Algarve are a “natural” and cyclical phenomenon that does not affect the quality of bathing water, explained today the Portuguese Environment Agency.

The appearance of large concentrations of algae on the Algarve coast is an increasingly frequent phenomenon, motivated, in most cases, by invasive species, introduced, namely, through ships that move them in their hulls.

“Constituting, at times, a source of apprehension for users of bathing areas, it is a natural phenomenon that does not jeopardize the quality of bathing water and is monitored by the authorities with competence in the matter”, explained the APA, in communicated about the phenomenon.

The University of Algarve (UAlg) this week launched a digital platform to collect data on algae found on Algarve beaches and understand which invasive species lead to large accumulations in the sands.

According to the APA, “various factors contribute to these occurrences, including meteorological and oceanographic conditions favourable to the development and movement of algae masses” that “build up in the surf zone of the waves and are later spread over the sand”.

In the western Algarve, he adds, the algae, brown and red, are typical of rocky bottoms “and arise as a result of favourable currents or after several days with constant gusts of wind”, which encourages the rise of deep waters, more cold and rich in nutrients, right up to the surface.

According to the APA, it has been verified since the beginning of July that the water temperature at depth “is colder than the average for this time of year”, in the Algarve, which is also a favourable factor for the accelerated growth of algae.

In the leeward (east) region, the algae that accumulate on the beaches are mostly green algae, “species that tend to multiply in the Ria Formosa when the ideal conditions of temperature and light are combined with high concentrations of nutrients”.

InterMEDio Festival marks the return of major events to Loulé

Event aims to recall the spirit of the MED Festival and help local businesses.

The Loulé City Council today presented the interMEDio, a «special and limited edition event», which runs from 23 to 29 August, focused on world music, with the objective of «making the connection between the pre-pandemic period and which is expected to be the MED Festival when the world fully returns to normality».

The resumption of economic and social activity, in particular the new, more permissive measures of de-confinement in force since Sunday, August 1st, «make it possible to carry out this initiative, which will certainly allow the public to satisfy some of the cultural needs felt in the last few years”, explains the municipality, which leaves a guarantee: “for the faithful followers of MED, this event will bring new experiences and unique musical experiences, the result of the constant innovation in terms of the artistic projects that appear here.

The enclosure will be limited, but framed in what is the territory of the MED and its ambience – the historic town of Loulé, with a strong presence of elements from the Mediterranean space.

However, given the restrictions defined in terms of capacity, only Palco Cerca, one of the festival’s usual 10 stages, will receive shows. Seats will be seated and, during the seven nights of programming, two concerts are planned per night.