Safe for humans. For more than a week, the ocean has turned red off the coast of Loire-Atlantique, forcing the prefect to ban recreational fishing last Saturday in a dozen municipalities.
In question: the presence of a microalgae, lingulodinium.
Asked by the daily Ouest-France, the services of Cap Atlantique explains that “this phenomenon, resulting from toxic phytoplankton, is of great concern, in particular with regard to the quality of the water.”
Stating that “the phytoplankton species Lingulodinium polyedrum has been detected with abundances above the alert threshold in the sectors of Loscolo, Pont Mahé and Le Croisic”.
Ban on recreational fishing linked to the coloring of the water in the presence of micro-algae. Municipalities concerned: ASSERAC / MESQUER / PIRIAC SUR MER / LA TURBALLE / GUERANDE / LE CROISIC / BATZ SUR MER / LE POULIGUE / LA BAULE / PORNICHET
Stopped : https://t.co/czHmpbba2G pic.twitter.com/8ZoJ9FO1u8
– Prefect of Pays de la Loire and Loire-Atlantique (@ Prefet44) August 21, 2021
In total, 10 coastal municipalities are affected. Namely: Assérac, Mesquer, Piriac-sur-Mer, La Turballe, Guérande, Le Croisic, Batz-sur-Mer, Le Pouliguen, La Baule, Pornichet.
However, swimming is still authorized because all the analyzes carried out on this species of algae have shown that there is no risk for humans.