The 2012 bathing season will run from June 1 to September 30 as determined by an ordinance issued by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and the Sea, published in the Official Journal today.
Under the terms of this ordinance, 58 bathing waters across the archipelago were classified as "identified bathing waters"; 20 were identified on São Miguel and 15 on Terceira.
The remaining identified bathing waters are located on Faial (5), Pico (4), Santa Maria (4), Graciosa (4), São George (3) and Corvo (1).
The beach areas open to public use and the respective bathing waters are annually identified in accordance with the Regional Legislative Decree no.16/2011/A of May 30.
This legislation establishes the legal scheme on the management of beach areas in the Autonomous Region of the Azores, the quality of bathing waters as well as provision assistance to beach users.
Under the legislation in force, the Regional Directorate for Sea Affairs is responsible for identifying bathing water on an annual basis, establishing the bathing season and monitoring the bathing waters identified in each year.