Marine Ecosystems: Brittany, France

Before the Second World War, the economic development of the western region of France sorely lagged behind the rest of the country. In the 1950’s, as the country experienced the “baby boom,” the French government subsidized a dramatic expansion in agricultural production in this previously under developed region of Brittany.

The region benefited from ‘Les Trentes Glorieuses,’ a major thirty-year economic boom where Bretons prospered. As Brittany basked in its new economic wealth, little to no regard was given to the impact this rapid augmentation of agricultural production was having on the environment.

Throughout the second half of the last century, pork producers unknowingly allowed their lands to become saturated with the nutrient-rich excretions produced by their pork. At that time, pork farmers did not have an understanding of the harm their actions were causing to the environment in which they lived.

Despite the fact that both nitrogen and phosphorus are chemicals found naturally in the environment, the over abundance was too great for the land to breakdown and the ground water eventually became polluted. This polluted water flowed through the rivers and into the bays where a foul smelling and abundant “algues vertes” (ulvea: green algae) thrived on the increased nutrients. This overproduction of nutrients, which helped the algae flourish, created a dire unbalance in the marine ecosystem of the bays.

In 1993, after consistently high levels of pollution in the region’s drinking water, the six communities that make up the “Communauté de Communes” of the Penthièvre coast: La Bouillie, Planguenoual, Pléneuf-Val-André, Plurien, St-Alban and Erquy, were forced to close their Islet River drinking water facility. One year later, the Flora River drinking water facility was also taken off line.

The proverbial finger was pointed at the region’s farmers.

My study aimed to investigate the justification of that accusation, the response made by the agricultural producers, and the changes initiated by both the farmers and municipal entities. Additionally, this study explored other causes of water pollution along the Penthièvre coast, as well as the potential contamination of the shellfish stock, and the effect water pollution has had on coastal wildlife. Finally, this study proposes a perspective on the interaction between tourism and secondary residences and water quality.

Brittany, France | Geography & Wildlife

GEOGRAPHY & WILDLIFE

Brittany is home to thriving wildlife and biodiversity. Butterflies, insects, woodland birds, reptiles, and amphibians share their habitats with seabirds such as the Black-backed gull, the Herring gull, the Lesser black-backed gull, the Greater black-backed gull, the Kittiwake, the Fulmar, the Shag, the Guillemot, the Razorbill, the Eurasian Oystercatcher, Plover, Common Shelduck, Black-winged stilts, Redshanks, Common Terns, Egrets, Fan-tailed warblers & Yellow wagtails.

Migratory birds have cleverly chosen nesting grounds at Cap Fréhel over Cap d’Erquy – less than five miles away. Their reason is not arbitrary yet based entirely on the geological slant of the rocks – geological changes that took place an estimated 465 million years ago. At the Cape of Erquy, the light rose multicolored sandstone rock is layered and slanted – making nesting precarious. At the Cape of Fréhel, the deep red uni-colored sandstone is layered horizontally providing secure ledges for nesting.

The soil along the Cap Fréhel coastline is extremely acidic due to this sandstone. The vegetation which flourishes is therefore one that thrives on this acidity: gorse and heather.
To better appreciate the environment of this region, it is important to not only understand its wildlife, landscape, and geology but also its geography. The six villages that make up the “Communauté de Communes” are described as forming a v-shaped basin, and as a result “every drop of rain water which falls in the “Commune” eventually exits into the Bay.” This detail is critically important for individuals, farmers, and policy makers alike as they work to find a solution to their environmental problems.