Environmental association ZERO has awarded its new quality seal ‘Zero Poluição’ to 71 Portuguese beaches with “pollution-free” water – 29 of which are located in the Algarve.
This means that the quality of water at 12% of Portugal’s beaches has been “excellent” for the last three years and free from any sort of contamination, according to data provided to ZERO by the national environmental agency APA.
Most of the beaches are located in the municipalities of Vila Nova de Gaia and Vila do Bispo (six each), followed by Aljezur (five).
ZERO recommends that beachgoers only visit beaches that have quality seals, urging them not to leave litter behind and do what they can to help “preserve the surrounding landscapes and ecosystems”.
The full list of pollution-free beaches is as follows:
• Albufeira -Inatel-Albufeira; Olhos de Água
• Alcobaça – Água de Madeiros; Pedra do Ouro
• Aljezur – Amado; Amoreira-mar; Arrifana; Monte Clérigo; Odeceixe-mar
• Cascais – Guincho
• Castro Marim – Cabeço; Praia Verde
• Esposende – Fão-Ofir; Rio de Moinhos
• Grândola – Aberta Nova; Carvalhal; Melides
• Ílhavo – Costa Nova
• Loulé – Loulé Velho; Vale do Lobo;
• Lourinhã – Peralta; Porto Dinheiro
• Nazaré – Salgado
• Olhão – Armona-mar; Fuseta-mar
• Peniche – Consolação; Consolação norte
• Pombal – Osso da Baleia
• Portimão – Alvor-nascente; Alvor-poente; Carianos
• Póvoa de Varzim – Barranha; Codixeira; Paimo
• Praia da Vitória – Praia da Riviera
• Santa Cruz – Garajau
• Santiago do Cacém – Costa de Santo André
• Setúbal – Galapos; Portinho da Arrábida
• Silves – Praia Grande-nascente
• Sines – Grande de Porto Covo; Morgavel, S. Torpe; Vieirinha – Vale de Figueiros
• Tavira – Barril; Cabanas-mar; Ilha de Tavira-mar; Terra Estreita
• Vagos – Areão; Vagueira
• Viana do Castelo – Afife; Insua
• Vila do Bispo – Almadena-Cabanas Velhas; Boca do Rio; Furnas; Mareta; Martinhal; Zavial
• Vila do Conde – Mindelo
• Vila Nova de Gaia – Aguda; Dunas Mar; Mar e Sol; Marbelo; Sãozinha; Valadares Sul
• Vila Real de Santo António – Fábrica-mar; Lota
River beaches:
• Gouveia – Vale do Rossim
• Macedo de Cavaleiros – Fraga da Pegada
• Vila de Rei – Zaboeira
• Odemira – Vila Nova de Mil Fontes-Farol
