Press Release 28.05.2026
Today, professional surfer Miguel Blanco premieres the seventh episode of his Impact Serie, titled Between The Tides, on YouTube. Produced in collaboration with Surfrider Foundation Europe, this documentary traces his personal journey, investigating water quality at his home spot in Ericeira, Portugal, as well as the importance of healthy waters in Europe.
A documentary to raise awareness about recreational waters quality in Europe
In his documentary series, Impact Series, Miguel Blanco explores every aspect of surfing – cultural, environmental, societal… as part of his surfing project.
In this seventh episode, entitled Between The Tides, the professional surfer explores the quality of recreational waters. Having suffered from an ear infection himself, Miguel Blanco investigates the links between health and pollution that can affect surf spots.
To this end, he travels across his native country – Portugal – to collect samples. His investigation highlights critical issues at Matosinhos (Porto), where untreated sewage from illegal discharges enters the ocean, and Ericeira, his home spot, a protected area still plagued by significant pollution despite its status.
To go beyond mere observations, Miguel Blanco enlisted Surfrider Foundation Europe to carry out tests on the quality of these waters. With the help of the NGO and health professionals, the surfer reveals the various forms of contamination—bacterial and chemical—that turn recreational waters into health hazards.
© Miguel Blanco, Between The Tides, 2026
Between the Tides also highlights that, alongside the NGO, it is possible to make a difference at various levels. Highlighting Surfrider’s 35-year history, the film showcases their ground-level efforts to improve water quality by engaging local authorities, local authorities, from their famous black flags to warn of unsafe conditions, to gaining access to establishing itself as a key player in Brussels regarding public policies on marine protection and water quality.
The documentary also shows that the NGO is campaigning at European level to bring about changes to European legislation. Surfrider defends excellent water quality everywhere in Europe and is a strong advocate for the protection of the health of all those who enjoy these blue spaces, especially through the EU Bathing Water Directive (Directive 2006/7/EC).Surfrider is callingforthe inclusion of all recreational waters, not just designated bathing areas, under regulatory protection, and year-round monitoring of water quality, rather than the current seasonal approach limited to summer months.
Watch the film here from 6pm today !
This educational film is part of the Ocean Friendly Films program, enabling Surfrider to organize screenings and panel discussions across Europe throughout the year. To spread this topic amongst coastal communities, the Portuguese branch of Surfrider – Surfrider Foundation Portugal – is organizing a Ocean Friendly Films Tour throughout the country, with screenings already confirmed at Porto, Lisbon and Ericeira.
We remain at the disposal of journalists for any request for information or interviews.
About Surfrider Foundation Europe The NGO Surfrider Foundation is a collective of positive activists who take concrete action on the groundon a daily basisto pass on a preserved ocean to future generations.Our mission: To carry the voice of the Ocean loud and clear! Our weapons? Raising awareness and mobilizing citizens,childrenand adults alike (inparticular through48 volunteer branches throughout Europe), using our scientificexpertiseto carry out lobbying actions and transform companies. Discover the association onhttps://surfrider.eu/or viathis video.
CONTACTS:
Lionel Cheylus | Media Relation Manager | +33 6 08 10 58 02 | lcheylus@surfrider.eu
Julie Gabriel | Media Relation Assistant | presse@surfrider.eu Leila Teixeira | Surfrider Portugal Coordinator | portugal@surfrider.eu
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.