The beach in Matosinhos was closed to swimmers for five days last week due to “microbiological contamination.” The ban was initially lifted on Wednesday, reinstated on Thursday, and then lifted again on Friday after new analyses were conducted, allowing bathers to return to the water, according to the same police source.
The Maritime Police of Leixões stated that the issue of “microbiological contamination” is “resolved,” at least for now.
Since the start of the bathing season, swimming has been discouraged four times at Matosinhos beach, according to information from the National Water Resources Information System (SNIRH).
In 2023, the water quality at Matosinhos beach was classified as acceptable, after being classified as good in 2022.
The swimming ban at the beach caused discontent among surf schools that use it as their main workplace. According to Manuel Castro, manager of Surf Aventura, one of more than 10 surf schools in Matosinhos, each day that passed with the ban on swimming and sea activities at Matosinhos Beach resulted in “hundreds of euros in losses.”
In these last few days when there was a warning and recommendation against swimming and using seawater at Matosinhos Beach, there were “immense losses” due to the cancellation of group surf and stand-up paddle lessons, birthday events, and equipment rentals. Castro added that he estimates losing about 300 euros per day.
