Proposal for bathing waters to be identified in the Azores in 2025 already out for public consultation - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Mar e das Pescas

The Regional Secretariat for the Sea and Fisheries, through the Regional Directorate for Maritime Policies, is conducting a public consultation on the coastal bathing waters to be identified in 2025 on all islands.

The proposal is to identify 88 bathing waters for the next season, the same number as in 2024.

This public consultation is accessible on the Regional Government website at https://portal.azores.gov.pt/web/gov/consultas until January 31, 2025. Contributions should be preferentially emailed to the following address: [email protected].

The procedure for identifying bathing waters aims to ensure that, every year, bathing waters are identified as suitable for bathing in the sea whilst safeguarding public health. The public consultation underlines the importance of public information and participation. It is an opportunity for any interested person or organisation to submit their comments and suggestions, particularly the conditions for using bathing waters, the safety of bathers and the sustainability of natural systems.

After the technical assessment of all the contributions, the list of coastal bathing waters identified for 2025 is approved by ordinance and published in the Official Journal of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, in conjunction with the duration of the bathing season for each bathing area.

A bathing water quality monitoring programme will be implemented throughout the bathing season, collecting samples, checking their suitability for bathing, and deciding on the measures to be taken in the event of microbiological or other forms of contamination.