Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Change visited the cleaning algae removal works at Porto Pim Beach

May 13, 2022

The Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Change, Alonso Miguel, visited Porto Pim Beach to follow the final stage of the cleaning and algae removal works, accompanied by the Mayor of the Horta City Council, Carlos Ferreira, and the President of the Angústias Parish Council, Bruna Gomes.

The governor highlighted “the helpful and indispensable collaboration ensured by the Horta City Council, on the cleaning works carried out, and all the commitment and coordination between the various departments of the Regional Government involved, namely the Faial Environment and Climate Change Service, the forestry services and the local public works delegation”.

“At a time when we are approaching the opening of the bathing season, and with the increase in visitors and tourist pressure, it is now important to ensure a regular beach cleaning and maintenance operation, allocating the necessary human resources and equipment for this purpose, to prevent further massive accumulations of algae and avoid the negative impacts that result from it,” stresses Alonso Miguel.

The Regional Secretary also took the opportunity to announce that he has already formalised a request for an audience with the Rectorate of the University of the Azores, “intending to establish a protocol with the Azorean academy to carry out a study that will allow confirming, at the genetic level, which species of alga we are talking about, to better understand its life cycle and the relevant aspects related to its ecology”.

He continued: “The aim is also to evaluate the potential use and economic value of this algae and identify technological solutions in terms of machinery and equipment that contribute to a more efficient management of this problem, both in terms of preventing stranding and in terms of cleaning and removing algae with less impact on the beaches”.

Alonso Miguel added that “the scientific results of this study will be fundamental to prepare the Region to deal with this new reality, given the massive occurrence of this alga, which has already been identified in several islands of the Archipelago, and to enable us to better manage its impacts, both in the marine environment and on the coastline of the islands”.