Fishing port of Ericeira to be improved

The upgrading work on the fishing port of Ericeira (Silver Coast-Portugal) began yesterday afternoon after the signing of the consignment of the work, valued at ten million, who chaired a ceremony to the Minister of Public Works, Mario Lino.

The work is the consolidation and construction of the jetty-north pier that will have 430 meters, 60 meters more, giving a "more robust profile," assured Natercia Cabral, President of the Port of Maritime Transport - IPTM.

In construction will be used blocks of 30 and 40 tonnes, approximately double the previous, creating "a curtain that passes six to eight meters in height." The bottom of the port will be dredged, being planned dredging of 27 cubic meters inside the port and the placing of 55 cubic meters of rocks.

According to the responsible, work comes in the wake of the Planning Director of the Port of Ericeira, drawn up in 2001/03, when it was decided to proceed with the first phase of work leading to the stage of testing by the National Laboratory of Civil Engineering-LNEC in 2004.

For the second phase of the work has already been launched last week for initiating the project in order to stop at the same time that the work now begun "three years from now" said the minister.

"Fishing has declined much but we have new activities devoted to nautical tourism and we will have put 200-boat (one hundred at sea and one hundred at land) and in a short time, three years, everything will be ready," assured Mario Lino .

New Marina for Ericeira, Silver Coast - Portugal

Great news for all you sailors!

The Minister of Public Works, Transport and Communications, Mario Lino, will chair the ceremony for awarding the work to repair the Fishing Port of Ericeira, where their will be presented the project of the future Marina of Ericeira, next Monday at 5 o’clock in the afternoon, informed Joaquim Casado, chairman of the Board of the local council of Ericeira.

It is a work that comes "after forty years of waiting, desolation and sadness, bitterness and lack of confidence," declared the president of the local council, for whom "there are a number of adjectives associated with all this, and fishermen of Ericeira still do not believe."

And on that occasion will be revealed, the project of the future "Marina of Ericeira."

The IPTM - the Port and Maritime Transport Institute "will bring the responsible projector and will submit to put up for discussion, observation and analysis of fishermen and Ericeira locals, the development of the so-called Marina of Ericeira, with the construction of the south pier," said Joaquim Casado.

Currently there are two hundred people who are dedicated to the various maritime activities, and professional fishermen are about eighty.

The Silver Coast of Portugal continues to take the right steps to fulfil the potential recognized for ages.

Observation circuit, more than 100 species of birds

At the “Tapada” (Nature Reserve) of Mafra – Silver Coast, it will be possible to see more than one hundred species of birds, starting from May. "We will open a new circuit which is the bird observation circuit", revealed Ricardo Paiva, director of the “Tapada”. "It’s the great challenge of the year, we made the lifting of that journey and we know that is, more often, seen species" of birds, explained.

At the “Tapada” (Nature Reserve) of Mafra – Silver Coast, every year is looking to submit a new product, and this year, it will be possible to observe chapins, felozas, pintassilgos, piscos pectoris red, as well as couples of birds of prey. This is the case of the Bonelli Eagle, which can reach underground and medium-scale, and whose offspring’s are the first flight in May and can be observed accompanied by parents throughout the area of the “Tapada”, Royal Bufo, a kind of owl of large dimensions, and the Azor (similar to the hawk), specialist in hunting birds in full flight, all nesting in the “Tapada”.

Apart from this route of bird observation, which will be in operation from May, the “Tapada” (Nature Reserve) of Mafra – Silver Coast already provides "walking, train and horseback, with horses themselves, and even a treasure hunt."

Climate change is a concern at the “Tapada” (Nature Reserve) of Mafra – Silver Coast, vulnerable to forest fires in summers of extreme drought. Another concern is that climate change can destroy the biodiversity due to not giving it time to make the kind of natural selection to adapt to the new climate.

"I fear very much that today's species do not have time to adapt, (climate change which were felt in centuries now occur in decades), we run a serious risk of diminishing our biodiversity, that is another area/ goal that the “Tapada” wants to seize next, he said. "We are neglecting the biodiversity issues that will be fundamental to our future," warned.

Enjoy the SILVER COAST ( OESTE ), Portugal

OESTE The most diversified tourism region of Portugal

Located between the two main cities of Portugal (Lisbon and Oporto), the SILVER COAST (OESTE, Costa de Prata) is indeed, a special place, starting off from Castelo de Paiva, all the way down south to Arruda dos Vinhos, you will be amazed by all the wonders this unique stretch of coastline can pack.

Very well served of motorways and other quality accessibilities, you just can’t miss it. From picturesque fishing towns (Nazaré, Peniche, Ericeira), to the beautiful lagoon of Óbidos that links to stunning the beach of Foz do Arelho, you’ll find it impossible to get bored, as culture meets nature and history embraces modern ways.

The SILVER COAST (Costa de Prata) has a flavour for everyone, as you can visit the worldwide famous shrine of Fátima in the morning, buy local fruit and veggies at the traditional open market of Caldas da Rainha mid day, only to finnish a perfect day with a candlelight dinner at the castle town of Óbidos.

Experience the portuguese food, arquitecture and landscapes

Anyone that has ever been to Portugal, will most certainly rave about the food, specially about all the delicious fish dishes. Sample some Caldeirada at the harbour town of Peniche and understand immediately, not to mention all the other world-class wines you haven’t tried yet, or you thought Porto was the only top wine in Portugal? And while visiting Peniche, don’t forget to try out one the many action sports, as this former island facing the deep blue is pretty much the portuguese capital of nautical sports (surfing; bodyboarding; windsurfing; kitesurfing), and with nearby islands of Berlenga and Farilhões (accessible by regular boat trips), you can always choose to contemplate a spectacular view to a always stunning coastline. For those less fond of the adrenaline rushes, a great game of golf, at one of Europe’s finest golf courses (Praia d’el Rey) will keep you relaxed and unperturbed, as you’ll be in walking distance from the pristine beaches facing the vast Atlantic Ocean.
But don’t be satisfied with how nature blessed this striking piece of Portugal, as Batalha and Alcobaça are home of two of Portugal’s seven wonders, as the ancient monasteries are very worth the visit and only a few kilometres apart.