The Altura Artisanal and Recreational Fishing Association (APALA) celebrated its first anniversary on November 8th, bringing together around 100 people in a tribute to the cultural and environmental legacy that marks this community’s connection with the sea.
Born out of the commitment of people from Alturense to their heritage, APALA is dedicated “to preserving fishing heritage, promoting sustainable practices and local development rooted in the values and traditions of the region”.
With the support of important figures such as the mayor of Castro Marim, Francisco Amaral, and the vice-president, Filomena Sintra, among other dignitaries, APALA marked the date with a visit to the fishing sheds.
This space, a symbol of Altura’s maritime activity, now reflects the cleaning and organization efforts that the association has promoted, in line with its objective of protecting the environment and enhancing natural heritage.
After the visit, guests gathered for a convivial dinner at the typical restaurant “O Girassol”, where they were able to share memories and reinforce the feeling of unity around Altura’s maritime tradition and culture.
During the dinner, the president of APALA, Paulo Sousa, highlighted the association’s commitment to improving local infrastructure, stating: “It is our intention to preserve and improve the conditions of our fishing grounds and fishing support, so that any degradation that is occurring today feel like part of the past. We want anyone who visits us to be proud of the work carried out by the fishermen of Altura, who, along with the development of their activity, knew how to care for and preserve their workplace and the surrounding spaces”.
APALA, made up of local families and descendants of generations of fishermen, has the mission of revitalizing and perpetuating ancestral knowledge, respecting good recreational and professional fishing practices.
In addition to preserving tradition, the association’s pillar is “the strengthening of environmental education, positioning itself as an agent of change in sustainability and ecological balance”.
The association thus reaffirms its role “in valuing Altura as a space where tradition and environmental innovation coexist, taking the lead in defending a sustainable and responsible fishing model, with its eyes focused on the future, but its feet firmly planted in the memories of the past.”
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