Hikers cross the Morieux-Hillion cove, on Bon-Abri beach: a risky walk due to the possible inhalations of the H2S released by the green algae. – M. Pavard / 20 Minutes
To know if he was heard, we will have to wait another month. This Thursday, the public rapporteur of the administrative court of Rennes has yet released a sacred pavement in the (green) pond. Entered by the association Eau et rivières de Bretagne, the latter considered that the program to fight against green algae planned in Brittany was insufficient. He calls for “more restrictive measures” to fight against nitrates of agricultural origin which have polluted rivers and generated green tides for years.
The appeal was made after an order of the regional prefect dating from the summer of 2018, considered as a regional water protection action plan. The association hopes for a strengthening of regulatory obligations, particularly in farms located in watersheds subject to green tides.
The state has “preferred to turn its head”
The public rapporteur, whose opinion is usually followed by the judge, estimated Thursday that the court should “pronounce an annulment as the contested order has not lowered the overall nitrogen balance nor specified the conditions under which a changeover from the green algae plan from the regulatory incentive could intervene, ”the association said in a press release. She accuses the State of having “preferred to look away” and of not having “taken up its responsibilities in the face of one of the biggest Breton ecological issues”.
The court is expected to render its decision within a month. The Court of Auditors is also due to submit a report at the beginning of the summer on the effectiveness of public policies in the fight against green algae.