Holidaymakers warned against deadly seaweed on Brittany's popular beaches
British holidaymakers descending on the beaches of northern Brittany have been warned to be on their guard against 'killer seaweed' which is as poisonous as cyanide.
The rotting algae, which has coated several beaches around the Saint Brieuc area of northern Brittany, has been blamed for the deaths of 28 wild boars.
The animals were reportedly killed when they breathed in a toxic gas released by the foul-smelling seaweed as it decomposes on the French beaches.
Lifeless: One of the dead boars lies in the bay of Saint-Brieuc yesterday at the mouth of the Gouessant estuary in Brittany, bringing to 31 the number found this month, floating in the water or washed up
The deadly algae - which is affecting some of the beaches visited by tens of thousands British holidaymakers each summer - is said to be the result of large quantities of nitrates released into the water from intensive pig and poultry farming nearby.
The warning was issued by Brittany’s Cote d’Armor regional government which said the potentially deadly seaweed was ‘above a health alert level, but below severe danger level’.
Seaweed – which is a form of algae - is normally found on most northern French beaches. However, it releases hydrogen sulphide when it comes into contact with nitrogen waste flowing to the sea from the pig and poultry farms.
Workers for the Office National de la Chasse et des Forits removes one of the boars from the beach which has been closed for safety
Two years ago a council worker on a seaweed clearing team was poisoned by gas and taken to hospital in a coma. A horse-rider also passed out and his horse died in 2009 after inhaling toxic gas.
Brittany marine biologist Alain Menesguen said: 'This is a very toxic gas, which smells like rotten eggs. It attacks the respiratory system and can kill a man or an animal in minutes.
'It is likely to be a feature of any area where intensive farming methods are employed.'
Morieux mayor Jean-Pierre Briens said: 'We are very worried for the health of visitors to beaches around here.
'How could we be anything other than worried when animals are being found dead?'
Over the past ten years, the French government has refused repeated demands from local councils to control how intensive animal farms dispose of waste.
Instead it has employed teams of workers to simply cart away the weed, which then returns the next year.
Environmentalist Jean-Frangois Piquot predicted two years ago that government’s clearing was not enough and the toxic algae would spread.
He said: There are about five beaches that are unusable in Brittany. The problem is getting worse.
'There is no doubt that farming is to blame. Brittany has 5 per cent of French agricultural land but 60 per cent of the pigs, 45 per cent of the poultry and 30 per cent of the dairy farms.”
'As our rivers are not long, the pollution does not have time to clear before the water reaches the sea. It enters a closed bay and the sunlight produces the seaweed.'
Green day: The killer algae on the beach
Andre Olivro, president of a local protest group, added: 'The death of the boars should be taken a very serious warning. The next time we are scared, it will be a child.'
Seaweed on British coasts is rarely dangerous. The twice daily tides mean weeds do not have time to dry out and bake – and so do not release toxic gas.
However, when the seaweed decays in winter it releases hydrogen sulphide into the water, killing invertebrates such as worms and shrimp.
The growth of the algae in summer also kills species as it uses up the oxygen in the water, removing food for other wildlife such as fish, while the thick layer of seaweed stops birds getting to food.
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