Recent storms have caused “marked coastal erosion” along the Algarve’s coast, with significant sediment loss, shoreline retreat and cliff collapses, a local marine researcher warned today, 18th February, calling for urgent intervention.
Speaking to journalists, coastal dynamics specialist Dr. Óscar Ferreira said the succession of severe weather events had led to “substantial losses” of sand and cliffs on several Algarve beaches, and exposed previously unbattered cliff faces directly to wave action. The process has resulted in landslides and rockfalls at multiple points along the shoreline.
“The most significant impacts occurred on the stretch between Quarteira and Vale do Lobo, particularly in the Forte Novo area, in the municipality of Loulé, where shoreline retreat considered highly relevant was recorded, with very substantial mass movements,” said the researcher from the Centre for Marine and Environment Investigation, at the University of the Algarve.
He described the situation as episodic, linked to the succession of storms, but warned of “lasting impacts in sectors where coastal retreat is continuous and irreversible” without human intervention.
“Most beaches will naturally recover and sediments should return over the coming months,” he said. “However, in some stretches such as Quarteira and Forte Novo, the retreat is ongoing, meaning the coastline that has moved back will not advance again except artificially.”
As a primary mitigation measure in sandy areas, Dr. Ferreira pointed to beach nourishment, the artificial replacement of sand, both to restore bathing conditions and to reduce risks to people and property.
Along the rocky Algarve coast, between Olhos de Água and Lagos, he said authorities must strengthen monitoring and intervene where there is imminent risk from unstable cliffs. The Portuguese Environmental Agency is already expected to act in areas deemed dangerous.
Sediment replacement, he noted, has a limited lifespan and must be repeated periodically depending on location.
Dr. Ferreira highlights that effective solutions require a combination of strategies: artificial beach nourishment, dune system restoration efforts, and revised land-use planning in vulnerable areas. “Isolated interventions have limited effectiveness without an integrated and continuous approach,” he warned.
He also stressed the importance of scientific research and constant monitoring to support political and technical decisions. “Without consistent and up-to-date data, there is a risk of investing in ineffective or short-term measures.”
The challenge of coastal erosion, he added, demands cooperation between public authorities, scientists and local communities, particularly as climate change is likely to intensify the frequency and severity of extreme marine events such as the ones witnessed over recent weeks.
In his view, the problem “cannot be reversed” and largely results from human causes, making territorial reorganisation and relocation of assets necessary. “We should already have more relocation and land-use plans, because in the medium and long term they are less costly than maintaining protective structures or repeated artificial replenishment. We should be retreating rather than occupying,” he said.
He concluded that placing sand or other protections in high-risk areas can create a false sense of security, leading authorities to authorise housing and commercial development in zones that remain fundamentally hazardous.
Source: LUSA
