Paper short abstract:

What are the economic, social and environmental impacts of the global visibility of Nazaré's Praia do Norte big waves? What changes are already visible? What changes are desirable and undesirable? Something is changing in Nazaré: what, how and to what extent only now are we beginning to understand.

Paper long abstract:

November 1, 2011, on a wild and unknown beach of Portugal, a man surfed a wave with almost 24 meters high in about 24 seconds ...

A few days later, these images were watched all over the world. Praia do Norte of Nazaré and Garrett McNamara would reach global notoriety almost immediately: was this the biggest wave ever surfed? A few weeks later came the confirmation by the Guinness Book of World Records.

Since then, Praia do Norte became one of the main stages in the entire world for this unique spectacle offered by big waves surfers. That sea, so feared and so fierce, became a source of pride - and revenue. Now, the bigger the better! But is bigger truly better?

What are the economic, social and environmental impacts of this sudden global visibility of Nazaré's Praia do Norte giant waves? What changes are already visible? What changes are desirable - and undesirable? Something is changing in Nazaré: what, how and to what extent only now are we beginning to understand...

Nazaré thus faces a major challenge: how to take advantage of new opportunities generated by the global reputation of Praia do Norte giant waves, wisely combining economic progress with the improvement of the population's quality of life, while protecting the environment?

In this presentation, these and other questions will be addressed, having as basis the recent web documentary "Riding the Nazaré Wave", about the economic, social and environmental impacts of Praia do Norte, Nazaré global reputation: http://cavalgaraondanazare.ulusofona.pt/intro_en.html