Located on the so-called Lisbon peninsula, Cascais is surrounded by sea to the west of the Tagus Estuary between Serra de Sintra and the Atlantic Ocean. The most frequent wind which comes from the north-northeast and which is stronger during summer months is responsible for the cooling of the sea surface temperature thus enriching the water with nutrients and allowing the development of plankton and other fish. For this reason, the Cascais Sea has a high marine and habitat diversity. The extensive rocky platforms, which characterize the coast, serve as shelter for many animals (more than 80 different species) including sea-breams, white breams, gobies, black sea-breams and conger, among others. This biodiversity is protected along two kilometres between the beaches of Parede and S. Pedro do Estoril and a quarter of a mile towards the sea. Cascais has the first Marine Protected Area in Portugal under municipal management – a proof that the Cascais Municipality has technical and political capacity regarding the protection of the oceans.
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