In a statement, the association indicates that, of the 356 beaches awarded, 291 are coastal (82%), 55 inland (15%) and 10 transitional (3%).

In the coastal areas, 58 beaches are in the Azores, 24 in Madeira, 55 in the Tagus and West, 54 in the north, 58 in the Algarve, 17 in the centre, and 25 in the Alentejo were classified as “Gold Quality”.

In the interior areas, 16 from Tejo and Oeste, 14 in the north, 22 from the centre, and three from Alentejo were awarded.

Compared to 2023, according to data from Quercus, there was a decrease in the number of distinguished beaches in the Algarve regions (26 fewer awards), followed by the Tagus and West regions (24 fewer awards), with drops of 31% and 24%, respectively.

According to the association, the same occurred in the regions of Madeira (minus eight beaches) and the Center (minus one beach).

The Autonomous Region of the Azores showed the most significant increase when compared to 2023 (with 12 more awards), followed by Alentejo (three more awards) and the North (six more awards).

Quercus adds that this year there were 11 debuting bathing areas, awarded Gold Quality for the first time, of which five are inland, four coastal, and two transitional, located in the Autonomous Region of the Azores and Madeira, Central, North, and Tagus and West.

According to Quercus, the drop in the number of awards was in most cases motivated by non-compliance with the criteria relating to analyses carried out in the 2023 bathing season.

The association also highlights the launch of an interactive map of beaches awarded “Golden Quality” available at https://praiasouro.quercus.pt

The “Golden Quality Beach” award annually distinguishes the quality of bathing water on Portuguese beaches, based on available official public information, taking exclusively into consideration the analysis carried out in the laboratories of the different Regional Hydrographic Administrations, according to the environmental association.

To receive the “Gold Quality” beach classification, bathing water must meet several criteria, such as “excellent” water quality in the annual classification of the five bathing seasons prior to the last and all analysis carried out in the last bathing season ( 2023) should have presented better results in several bacterial indicators.