PM promises to clean up seaweed
The state will take action against the proliferation of toxic weed on Breton beaches
THE FRENCH government will pay for cleaning up Breton beaches clogged with toxic seaweed, PM François Fillon has promised.
The phenomenon, known as la marée verte (green tide), has been getting worse for 30 years and is blamed on chemical fertilisers used in agriculture seeping down rivers and into the sea. Usually mairies have to pay to clean their beaches.
Studies have proved the seaweed ulva armoricana is toxic once it reaches a certain concentration, said Fillon, who met locals at Saint-Michel-en Grève in the Côtes d’Armor along with Ecology Minister Chantal Jouanno, Agriculture Minister Bruno Le Maire and Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot. In the summer the proliferation of the decomposing weed in the area was blamed for the death of a horse – and illness of its rider - from fumes.
The PM said the state would clean up the beaches which presented risks to public health.
He added that in the next three months an action plan would be drawn up to find effective ways to stop the proliferation of the weed, to collect it and protect the public.
Trials would be done on collecting it at sea at the end of the winter to try to avoid such bad conditions as have been seen this summer. He said agreements on pollution from fertilisers now in place with farmers would help.
Photo:Innacoz
