• The stranding of green algae is particularly early and prolific on the Breton coast.

  • The sector of the bay of Saint-Brieuc is the most affected and concentrates 90% of strandings.

  • The fight plan launched by the State is being studied by the Court of Auditors, whose report is expected at the end of June.

Spring often signals the return of fine weather, singing birds and budding trees. In Brittany, the season often rhymes with the return of green algae en masse to the most exposed bays. After a not very stormy winter and therefore not very conducive to dispersing algae at sea, their stranding seems particularly precocious this year. Fearing the worst in some areas already submerged by the infamous ulva. "In sandy bays, the precocity of strandings would be well above average", explains the prefecture of Brittany. Around 30 to 40% more than the average established since 2002. And close to the “records” achieved in 2017 and 2019 where strandings had already been early.

Second observation: "According to the first evaluations, the bay of Saint-Brieuc (Côtes d'Armor) alone concentrates nearly 90% of the surface of stranded algae observed by the Center for the study and valuation of algae. (THIS WILL).

The bay of Fresnaye is also concerned, but to a lesser extent.

The mudflats of the Gulf of Morbihan and the Ria d'Étel, where collection is impossible, are already covered with dense deposits, "as was the case in 2020 and 2019, in fairly comparable weather conditions", continues the prefecture. .

"We make fun of the world a bit"

Beyond the virtual absence of swells this winter, it is above all the sudden heat and sunshine which Brittany has enjoyed for several weeks which seem to swell already substantial stocks of algae. Among the elected officials of the municipalities of the bay, the spring proliferation worries. "When you go regularly to the beaches of the fifth bay in the world and you see this little tractor with its little trailer that will make its day, you say to yourself that we are making fun of the world", there is a few months the mayor of Hillion, confronted each year with the plague of green algae.

In its press release, the prefecture of Brittany tries to justify its action to stem the phenomenon. The State explains that it is working "with the agricultural world in order to reduce nitrogen leaks in waterways". This plan involves crop rotations, soil cover actions, attempts at "balanced fertilization" or even an incentive to convert to organic farming. For the time being, these actions remain insufficient to put an end to the phenomenon of green algae. The plan put in place by the State against their proliferation is currently being closely studied by the Court of Auditors. His report is expected to be released in June, just after the regional elections. A timing contested by several environmental associations,who demand that the report be released before the regional election scheduled for June 20 and 27.

Planet

Brittany: “It smells like a rotten egg”… Green algae are coming in force from the south

Planet

Green algae: “More restrictive” measures demanded from the State

  • Breeding

  • Pollution

  • Agriculture

  • Green algae

  • Saint Brieuc

  • Reindeer

  • Planet