The Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 5th April 2023
by Mike Evans
Good day to you and with the weather warming up we have been posting a lot of information regarding keeping safe and secure throughout the Spring and into summer with regards to swimming in the Ocean, walking along the coastal cliffs as well as fire management. There is a new warning of extreme fire risk across some areas of Portugal over the next few days and the Algarve is one of these so please be aware of the requirements with regards to clearing land and burning rubbish.
Algarve launches the 2nd Phase of Support for Projects to promote Water Management.
With the hot weather comes the added issue regarding water and its conservation. As part of the Recovery and Resilience Program ( PRR ), the Algarve Intermunicipal Community (AMAL) has just launched the 2nd notice, worth seven million euros, to support projects that promote the efficient management of water supply systems from the Algarve.
Within the scope of this notice, applications aimed at sectoring networks, monitoring and controlling real water losses are eligible for better management in the distribution systems in downtown Algarve.
The main beneficiaries of the initiative are the management entities of the water supply networks in Baixa, that is, the municipalities and their associations, as well as the business sector and municipal concessionaires. The support given to applications will be non-refundable, a 100% non-refundable subsidy financed through the Next Generation EU fund. On the purpose of launching this 2nd notice, last Friday AMAL met with mayors and municipal technicians linked to this area to present the conditions of access and formalisation of candidacies.
At the moment, the status of what is already being carried out within the scope of the 1st phase of applications that took place in September 2021, through which 14 million euros are being applied for the execution of 54 works of requalification of networks and implementation of measurement and control zones. Investment in pressure reduction is also being supported.
The execution of the investment, associated with water efficiency in the Algarve, framed in the PRR and which involves other measures in addition to the one managed by AMAL, is coordinated by the Portuguese Environment Agency, through the Administration of the Hydrographic Region of the Algarve.
AMN Advises Adoption of Safety Behaviours during Easter Week
The weather forecast points to a week of good weather and above-average temperatures, so the National Maritime Authority advises the population to adopt safety behaviours when going to the beach or coastal areas, avoiding “unnecessarily exposing themselves to risk” .
“It is important to bear in mind that the sea, at this time of year, is a winter sea and presents a high risk due to the effects of maritime agitation, also presenting its morphology altered by the effect of the strong swell that normally occurs in this period of the year. year, creating zones of bottoms, steep slopes, eddies and waterholes on the beaches that are not signposted at this time of year”, explains the National Maritime Authority in a statement.
The overwhelming majority of Portuguese beaches are not supervised at this time of year, that is, they do not have the bathing safety device. As such, the “response to a rescue situation may take time, so the population should behave appropriately and responsibly, not putting themselves in risky situations”, continues the note. In view of the possible influx near the beaches , the National Maritime Authority will reinforce, from the 6th of April, surveillance and inspection in some of the bathing areas, with the aim of raising awareness among the population to avoid risky behaviour.
Thus, the National Maritime Authority recommends:
– Permanently monitor children and do not allow them to leave, always keeping them close to an adult;
– Avoid risky behaviour by not going near water or walking on wet sand. Do not turn your back on the sea and always maintain a safe distance from the waterline to avoid being surprised by a wave;
– If you witness a dangerous situation in the water, do not go in and call 112 for help.
Pleasure Boat Crew Rescued in the Guadiana
The crew of the Vila Real de Santo António Lifeguard Station helped, on the afternoon of Sunday, April 1st, two crew members of a pleasure boat that had an engine failure on the Guadiana River, about three nautical miles away ( 5.5 kilometres) south of Alcoutim, communicated the National Maritime Authority .
Following an alert received at 5:06 pm by the crew of the pleasure craft, “reporting the engine failure”, the crew of the Vila Real de Santo António Lifeguard Station were sent to the site.
Upon arrival at the site, they found that the two crew members were “physically well” and that they “tried to anchor”, in order to avoid running aground, but due to the strength of the current it was not possible to hold the vessel. The crew of the Salva-vidas Station towed the vessel, for reasons of navigation safety, to the Guadiana Marina, in Vila Real de Santo António.
ASAE Operation Arrests Six People for Illegal gambling
A 23-year-old man was arrested in Portimão for the crime of drug trafficking, announced the Public Security Police ( PSP ). The arrest was made in flagrante delicto by Faro ‘s PSP District Command , during a patrolling action.
The suspect was approached along with other individuals, “due to strong evidence of drug trafficking and consumption,” according to the statement. When approached, the suspect behaved hostilely and fled, dropping a knife and a bag of drugs.
The police began a chase on foot, which led the suspect to head to the PSP police station in Portimão, “on the verge of being caught”.
During the investigations, 210 doses of hashish, a knife, brass knuckles and 35 euros were seized. The detainee will appear before a judicial authority for the application of coercive measures.
22 fishing traps seized in Ribeira do Almargem
The Local Command of the Maritime Police of Tavira seized on Wednesday, March 29, 22 fishing traps during an inspection action in the Ria Formosa , announced the National Maritime Authority.
This action took place in Ribeira do Almargem, less than 900 metres from the coast, where there was a web made up of 22 fishing traps, known as “covos”, whose use is prohibited in that location.
The Maritime Police seized the fishing gear and prepared the respective report. Four members of the Tavira Maritime Police Local Command participated in this action, supported by a vessel and two vehicles.
16-year-old boy arrested for possession of a prohibited weapon in Quarteira
A 16-year-old youth was detained red-handed by the National Republican Guard (GNR) on March 31, in Quarteira , for possession of a prohibited weapon, drug trafficking and driving without a licence, the security force announced.
The arrest was made by the Territorial Command of Faro, through the Territorial Sub-detachment of Quarteira, during a road inspection and prevention and fight against juvenile crime.
The GNR soldiers inspected the young man driving a moped, in addition to a personal search, where a narcotic product and a weapon were found. After a house search of the suspect’s residence, an automatic opening knife, 10 doses of hashish, 50 euros in cash, a SIM card, a mobile phone, a precision scale and 20 airtight bags were also seized.
The detainee was made an arguido and the facts were communicated to the Judicial Court of Loulé. This action had the participation of the Faro Intervention Detachment .
Enjoy the Easter break Until the next time.