“Back in the day, I used to play with seashells and cowries. Nowadays, my babies play with plastic and cigarette buts”- Filipe Antunes, Ripar Surf School Co-owner.
Filipe Antunes’ has been surfing these waves since he was a child. A son of the land, he owns a surfing school with his two brothers. Recently, he’s been noticing that the seashells and cowries he used to play with as a kid have been replaced with plastic and cigarette buts his kids uncover in the sand. As a surfer, he believes there’s a place for everyone in the table of environmentalism.
“Naturally, as surfers we have a special connection with the ocean as we spend a lot of time in it. But even people who live far away should care about it”. Antunes emphasizes that the ocean’s health should concern everyone, even those who live far from the coast. He’s troubled by the apathy of some, as coastal issues have broader consequences. Lately, he’s been finding a lot of plastic waste on the beach he teaches at. However, he remains hopeful the new generation can bring change to this. At the end of his classes at Ripar Surf School, students are expected to pick up ten pieces of plastic waste from the beach before leaving. Although it’s a small personal task, Antunes has begun to see a noticeable shift in the attitudes within the local community.
Although he advocates for individual action in driving change, there are some factors that remain outside his control. During the interview, he recalled an episode where he got caught up in a fish net that was placed way too close to the coastal line: “There was a time where I felt like a small-catch, getting caught by a hook”.
Commercial fishing’s controversial practices are far from unknown. Afonso Silva, a sport fisherman from Lourinhã claims certain businesses allegedly take advantage of high tides to place set nets as close as they can to the shoreline. Afonso finds this practice highly unethical, arguing that it not only threatens local fishermen but also harms marine life and the local community.
19 year old Afonso, who comes from a long line of traditional fishermen, hasn’t been fishing for as long as some in his family. However, the decrease in biodiversity in the coastal area has become a topic of conversation on the dinner table. In regards to the Lourinhã bay area, he finds it important to ensure its protection as it is not as affected by commercial fishing as nearby regions such as Peniche, Nazaré and Ericeira.
On the subject of commercial fishing, there are key changes that need to be made according to Afonso. The industry should be more diligent in managing waste as most coastal pollution comes from commercial fishing practices. He also calls for greater awareness within the industry regarding fish quotas as unchecked extraction could result in long-term environmental harm.
The environmental impact the fishing industry has on “Praia da Areia Branca” is conspicuous. Afonso is aware of this as every time he takes a garbage bag with him to the beach, he comes back with a complete load. Filipes Antunes also highlights this problem as more severe during the winter months.
Sofia Delgado, a senior environmental health technician, who currently works at the water and environment division of the “coordenação do ambiente” of the Lourinhã municipality, states that public administration is carrying out their duty by regularly tidying the coastal line. Delgado remarks that the disparities noted during the chillier months are due to natural causes.
One of the things Lourinhã municipality does is to regenerate vegetation and also control invasive species such as Carpobrotus edulis, a creeping plant with succulent leaves and the Reed beds aquatic plants that end up at the sea and therefore the coast of the village.
Worried citizens like Afonso Silva comment that the rising sea level is already doing damage in “Praia da Areia Branca”, where certain businesses get flooded once every year. Diana Batalha, a biologist employed by the municipality, states there are several projects in progress to tackle these issues, namely the sand dune safeguard in “Passadiço do Cordão Dunar PAB/Praia do Areal Sul”. “The Cordão Dunar also helps prevent the tidal advance”, remarks Batalha.
Although coastal issues take the center stage in environmental congresses, the impact of ocean changes bring light to a context that screams on a global scale. Francisco Antunes, the co-owner of Ripar Surf School who’s seen his natural surroundings change over the course of his life has a message for the youth: “The only way to change the world is to change your world. But as you age, you get tired”.
