Toxic Algae Forces Shellfish Fishing Ban Along France's Atlantic Coast
Authorities maintain bans across multiple regions as Pseudo-nitzschia australis contamination coincides with peak tides, posing health risks and economic challenges.
- Shellfish fishing, collection, and sale remain banned in Morbihan, Loire-Atlantique, Vendée, and Finistère due to toxic algae contamination.
- Pseudo-nitzschia australis, a toxic algae producing amnesic toxins, has proliferated rapidly, prompting health warnings about severe neurological risks from contaminated shellfish.
- The bans coincide with the year's largest tides, a traditionally popular period for recreational shellfish fishing, intensifying public and economic impacts.
- Authorities report early signs of improvement in some areas, such as the Baie de Plouharnel, but restrictions will persist until shellfish safety levels are fully restored.
- Climate change and warming waters are cited as factors exacerbating the algae's spread, highlighting broader environmental concerns.
Ouest-France 
Sud Ouest 