Sal Rei Things to Do

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A small fish market operates on Avenida dos Pescadores, just behind Praia de Diante beach, in the town of Sal Rei.

We paid a brief visit to this market as part of a tour of Sal Rei in May 2011.

I understand that a modern fish market building was opened in the town in recent years but this simple, traditional outdoor market still survives.

A small group of local women and girls display the fishermen's catch (including lots of tuna) in plastic bowls on a wall just behind the beach. They have knives and weighing scales to cut and weigh the fish for their customers.

We only saw fish for sale (there were no shrimps or crabs for example), although one of the fish for sale was possibly the largest tuna fish that I have ever seen! The fact that the fish were crawling with flies meant that they didn't look very appetising, and I'd have been very reluctant to purchase anything.

Our guide informed us that we were fine to take photos of the fish, but asked us to avoid photographing the women as they have been known to react angrily to this in the past.

Immediately behind the fish market is Praia de Diante beach; you'll see small wooden fishing boats laying on the sands and bobbing up and down in the shallow sea, and if you arrive at the right time you'll see the fishermen delivering their fresh catch to the market.