Algae back on Brittany coast

GREEN algae is already washing up on some beaches in Brittany.

The annual problem was brought into the spotlight last year by the death of a horse, whose rider, a local vet, was left in a coma after inhaling fumes from the rotting algae.

Rising summer temperatures have seen more of the potentially lethal plant – sometimes known as sea lettuce – being dumped in piles along the bay of Hillion at St-Brieuc and in Douarnenez bay.

Although some researchers say the amount is less this year than last, at St-Michel-en-Grève, Côtes d’Armor, workers are out “seven days a week” collecting the weed before it can pile up and rot.

Already they expect to collect 30,000 tonnes this year compared to last year’s 25,000.

More than 100 sites all over Brittany were hit last year and intensive farming was blamed for loading the rivers with nitrate fertilisers washed down from cattle, pig and poultry farms and feeding the algae.

As the weed piles up on beaches it rots, giving off the characteristic rotting eggs smell of hydrogen sulphide which is potentially toxic if inhaled in quantity.

The government has promised e134 million to tackle the problem.

It wants to change farming practices in the 23 drainage basins along the north-west coastline and cut down on chemical and natural fertilisers. Environmental group Eau et Rivières say farming practices must change to cut down on nitrate use and to boost sustainable agriculture.

Leader Gilles Huet said farmers had misused the land for 40 years.

“There is a pig for every three inhabitants in Brittany, which has 5% of French agricultural land but 60% of the pigs, 45% of the poultry and 30% of the dairy farms.”