Portugal Has 5,000 Certified Lifeguards as Bathing Season Begins, Federation Warns of Shortfall

Portugal opened its bathing season at the start of June in several municipalities while facing a shortfall of lifeguards for beaches and public pools. Alexandre Tadeia, president of the Portuguese Lifeguards Federation, told Euronews that the country has about 5,000 certified lifeguards, yet would require 6,000 to 6,500 if every worker logged only 40 hours per week.

Tadeia estimated that only about two thirds of the 5,000 lifeguards will actually work this season.

National Maritime Authority figures cited by Jornal de Notícias show a drop of 265 certified lifeguards over the past two years. More than 5,000 people have completed lifeguard training courses, and roughly 1,500 new lifeguards are trained each year.

Tadeia said the number who renewed their certification this year is probably less than half of those trained, resulting in a net annual loss of at least 1,000 lifeguards.

A 2020 study by the federation found that 49 percent of lifeguards do not return the following year. Tadeia attributed the turnover to low pay, the absence of a dedicated civil-service career track, and public tenders that award contracts to the lowest bidder. Portugal maintains 700 public swimming pools, each requiring at least two lifeguards.

The bathing season officially runs from 15 April to 31 October, with high season beginning 1 June, depending on the municipality. The Portuguese Environment Agency has identified 671 bathing waters: 523 on the mainland, 88 in the Azores and 60 in Madeira. The agency maintains an online panel with beach profiles and water-quality data.