Repairing the Beach

There were pretty bad storms on the Algarve coast not long ago and this beach, Praia do Barril, suffered quite badly, it seems.  The response has been to dredge the seabed 50m offshore and to pump the spoil into the beach (under the existing sand).  Apart from the energy used, this seems a pretty good idea.

But it highlights the fragility of the coast: this beach is an offshore island which protects the low-lying coast proper.  If the islands go, the coast goes . . .

Extra photo: my wife and mother paddling in the sea.