Lethal algae take over beaches in northern France (1 Viewer)

Jan 3, 2008
3,329
5,340
Pakefield, Lowestoft, Suffolk, UK
Funster No
1,118
MH
Looking
Exp
35
Have seen some disturbing articles in the Telegraph and other papers and there are some nasty looking pictures on the internet. It seems a rider lost consciousness and his horse died from breathing toxic fumes. There are also reports of French people protesting about the problem which is said to affect 100 beaches in Brittany and it seems the algae is spreading along the atlantic coast.

Would like to hear from anyone who has recently seen the problem and extent of it first hand, rather than rely on what might be sensationalist or panicing ing newspaper reports before we set off on our trip in the next could of weeks.
 

paulmold

Free Member
Jun 15, 2009
892
302
North Wales
Funster No
7,129
MH
Coachbuilt
Exp
7 year (25yrs a tugger)
The report about the horse dates back to an article in the Guardian in 2009. Such toxic algae is found in this country as well, only last week we were at Grafham Water in Cambridgeshire and there are signs around the water's edge warning you not to swim or to allow dogs to enter the water or to let them drink it. There it's called Blue-Green Algae and can be seen along the edges of the water on the beaches.
 

vwalan

Funster
Sep 23, 2008
8,835
5,798
roche cornwall
Funster No
4,148
MH
lynton5th wheel
Exp
since a child
usually its a red algae. that hits brittany , most beaches have signs saying dont pick up the shell fish etc to eat.
its quite a normal thing over there . seems to happen almost every summer .
it will be well sign posted on the beaches that are effected .

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
OP
OP
iandsm
Jan 3, 2008
3,329
5,340
Pakefield, Lowestoft, Suffolk, UK
Funster No
1,118
MH
Looking
Exp
35
Just had another look at the article in the Times today. It reads as if the has just happened and mentioned nothing about the fact that the Appeal Court in Nantes ruling yesterday was on a matter that occurred in 2009, which is in fact the case. Poor reporting! No need to worry, just something to be aware of.
 

tambo

Free Member
Jun 21, 2014
874
639
Dunfermline fife scotland
Funster No
32,052
MH
a class
Exp
MH Since 2008, ex tugger and vw campers since 1992
Having just toured from la Rochelle all the way up the west coast and along the north currently on the somme and having visited some 20 odd beaches in the last 2 weeks I have to say I've not seen anything dodgy on them and most were fairly busy
 

tambo

Free Member
Jun 21, 2014
874
639
Dunfermline fife scotland
Funster No
32,052
MH
a class
Exp
MH Since 2008, ex tugger and vw campers since 1992
Forgot to mention too that all the way up the west we've seen literally dozens of people collecting muscles etc from the beach ....We Even had a bowl full from a nice old guy at Le conquet they were great :)

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

vwalan

Funster
Sep 23, 2008
8,835
5,798
roche cornwall
Funster No
4,148
MH
lynton5th wheel
Exp
since a child
its very often signposted around st pol de leon or further across near st brieuc . it seems to be in the wide bays that are kind of sheltered .
usually the surf beaches on the west coast the water changes so much it doesnt usually grow , its in the shallow calmer waters that it likes . around brest can get it as well again sheltered waters .
 

magicsurfbus

Free Member
Oct 11, 2010
4,673
10,127
NW England
Funster No
14,057
MH
Bessacarr Coachbuilt
Exp
Since 1997
I was under the impression that the horse and rider incident, along with a later incident where a local council worker was overcome, were due to methane gas generated by large mats of rotting seaweed, and not the toxicity of algae. A similar effect to the slurry tank tragedies that occur in farming where one person is overcome and falls in, and their would-be rescuers become victims too, for lack of respirator equipment.
 

DBK

LIFE MEMBER
Jan 9, 2013
17,969
47,804
Plympton, Devon
Funster No
24,219
MH
PVC, Murvi Morocco
Exp
2013
Forgot to mention too that all the way up the west we've seen literally dozens of people collecting muscles etc from the beach ....We Even had a bowl full from a nice old guy at Le conquet they were great :)
They generally do this on spring tides, when the sea goes out much further at low tide. We saw hundreds doing it in southern Brittany last year. They would collect anything edible, mussels, shrimps, crabs. I now keep a net in the MH!
P9190019cropped-levelled.jpg

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

magicsurfbus

Free Member
Oct 11, 2010
4,673
10,127
NW England
Funster No
14,057
MH
Bessacarr Coachbuilt
Exp
Since 1997
I love the French national obsession with cocquillage au bord de la mer - it makes a great comedy photographic subject. These were all taken in the Bonne Anse tidal lagoon at La Palmyre:

Broken Link Removed

Broken Link Removed

Broken Link Removed
 

Allanm

Free Member
Jun 30, 2013
5,431
9,191
Cotes d'armor, France
Funster No
26,730
MH
Burstner Harmony TI 736 G
Exp
Since 1987
Were are going to the beaches in Brittany this week, I'm sure they are all ok. We did notice the rivers near Epernay in a Eastern France were a milky green colour though last week.
Wouldn't want to have drunk out of them!
Allan

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Funsters who are viewing this thread

Back
Top