Portugal's Environment Minister Orders Beach Maps to Clarify Sunshade Zones

Environment Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho announced that municipalities in the Algarve and Grândola will install visible maps at beach entrances showing concession areas, safety and passage zones, and free zones where beachgoers may place sunshades. The recommendation, made after a meeting with local mayors, the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) and the Maritime Authority, is not a legal requirement but a guideline accepted by the participating councils.

The maps will not alter existing concession rules, which limit concessioned space to 30% of the usable beach area and 50% of the beachfront. Sunshades may be placed only in the free zones outside concessioned and safety areas. APA has confirmed that such placement is permissible provided the limits are respected.

Municipalities such as Castro Marim assert that current concession contracts already comply with the law and that no ban on sunshades exists. The Maritime Police have conducted advisory checks on beaches, emphasizing compliance with the new signage. The initiative aims to reduce misunderstandings among beach users and improve safety and access during the bathing season.