All that is missing is the signature of the prefect of Finistère. On Friday, state services announced that the “12,000 pig farm” had received a favorable opinion from the departmental council for the environment and health and technological risks (Coderst). Pronounced by 15 favorable opinions for and 3 contrary opinions, this decision could contribute to regularizing the situation of the exploitation of the very influential president of the regional pork committee. Owner of the Avel Vor farm in Landunvez, Philippe Bizien had invested heavily to expand his farm and accommodate nearly 12,000 pigs. Except that everything hadn’t been done according to the rules. Go back.
In 2016, the prefect of Finistère had validated the extension of the son of the former mayor of Landunvez. A surprising decision in view of the unfavorable opinion issued by the commissioner-investigator. In an investigation, the newspaper Splann! had revealed that after this unfavorable opinion, the commissioner had not been reappointed the next year. Seized by several environmental associations, justice then invalidated this extension, considering that the impact study was not sufficient.
Delivered by the Rennes administrative court in 2019, this decision was confirmed by the Nantes court of appeal in 2021, forcing the Avel Vor farm to submit to a new public inquiry. Its owner, who has become president of Evel’Up, is at the head of one of the largest French pork cooperatives, which brings together more than 1,000 breeders.
Degraded bathing waters according to opponents
Pending the results of the investigation, Philippe Bizien had obtained provisional authorization from the State to continue to exercise. The farm produces the equivalent of 27,000 meat pigs per year, which is one of the largest facilities in Brittany. In addition to the inconvenience caused to the 1,500 inhabitants of Landunvez, the opponents are mainly concerned about the deterioration of the quality of the waters in the sector, which is very popular with surfers.
Known for their white sand and turquoise waters, the beaches of the town are sometimes tinged with brown when the rain washes the fields, denounce locals. “The waterways are seriously polluted by nitrates, phosphorus, pesticides and faecal bacteria,” denounces the Association for the Protection and Promotion of the Coast of Legends. Swimming is permanently prohibited on the beach of the Château even if the source of the degradation of the water is not yet clearly established.