Maria da Graça Carvalho, speaking to reporters in Quarteira, in the municipality of Loulé, explained that this inspection will take place over the next month and the results will be announced in early September, after the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) conducts a survey similar to the one conducted on the coast of Grândola.

"The APA, together with the [National] Maritime Authority, will also conduct an inspection in the Algarve. It will begin next week. There are some complaints, much fewer than in the Grândola area, but a plan and inspections will be made along the entire Algarve coast," the minister stated.

When asked by journalists about the objectives of the inspection, the Minister of Environment and Energy emphasised that it will not only focus on access issues, but also on verifying whether the public service that beach concessionaires are obligated to provide is being fulfilled.

"[..] It's not just about access, it's about the public service that concessionaires must provide," Maria da Graça Carvalho observed, clarifying that they will also verify the "existence of safety and first aid" and whether "open, clean changing rooms and restrooms" are available for use from outside.

In June, the Ministry of Environment and Energy announced a similar operation on the beaches along the coast of the municipality of Grândola, in southwestern Alentejo, inspecting 22 beaches between Troia and Melides, 18 of which are under concession.

As part of this inspection in that municipality in the Setúbal district, authorities found eight beaches with unrestricted access, two with controlled access, eight with restricted access, and one with prohibited access.

The remaining three beaches lacked the necessary infrastructure, according to a source from the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) at the time.

The Ministry intends for operators to post signs on these beaches informing them of the existence of pedestrian access and to collaborate on projects to provide parking and access without restrictions.

Concurrently, the Government is implementing measures such as expanding the public transportation system, installing parking restrictions, and continuously monitoring and inspecting these beaches.