Commemorations of National Fisherman’s Day

National Fisherman’s Day will be celebrated on May 30 and 31, with a commemorative program centered in the village of Alvor and at the Portimão Museum, dedicated to preserving the memory of fishing activities and valuing the historical spaces linked to the maritime community.

The initiatives include a popular fair, direct fish sales, the inauguration of a photographic exhibition, and the screening of a documentary dedicated to the fishing boat “Arrifana” and the reality of fishing.

On Saturday, May 30, between 6:00 PM and 11:00 PM, the fair “Tá tudo xaringado” will take place in the area surrounding the Alvor Lifeguard Interpretive Center (CISA) and the old fish market of Alvor. The event proposes a moment of socializing, with a gastronomic component and musical entertainment, evoking the community spirit associated with fishing life and the traditional use of this space.

Musical entertainment will be provided by Paula and José Vicente, from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM, followed by DJ Beto from 8:30 PM to 11:00 PM, promising a festive atmosphere by the riverside of Alvor.

On Sunday, May 31, between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM, the old fish market of Alvor will host the “Fresh Fish Market”, an initiative that recreates the original dynamics of the space through direct fish sales, promoting contact between fishermen and the public and valuing artisanal fishing activities.

Also on May 31, the Portimão Museum will host two moments dedicated to the project “Arrifaina” by João Bracourt. The photographic exhibition “Arrifaina” will be inaugurated at 5:00 PM, consisting of 11 photographs resulting from a unique record of sardine fishing aboard the fishing boat “Arrifana”. The project arises from an unexpected experience at sea when the camera became inoperable at the start of the operation, allowing only a brief initial record of 17 minutes. This constraint led to a creative process based on alternative means — action camera, mobile phone, and drone — resulting in a visual approach marked by spontaneity and closeness to reality. The exhibition also includes objects related to fishing activities, such as nets, sonar, and other onboard instruments.

The exhibition will be open to the public until June 26 and can be visited at the Portimão Museum on Tuesdays from 2:30 PM to 6:00 PM, and from Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

At 9:00 PM, in the auditorium of the Portimão Museum, the documentary “Arrifaina”, also by João Bracourt, will be screened, lasting 20 minutes and 20 seconds. The film is a tribute to traditional sardine fishing and the communities linked to the sea, with the fishing boat “Arrifana” as its central focus, an emblematic vessel of the artisanal fleet and a symbol of a maritime heritage that spans generations. Considered at the time as one of the most modern boats in its category, equipped with two engines, the “Arrifana” represents the connection between tradition and technical evolution in fishing.