Pyrénées-Atlantiques: Toxic algae proliferates on a beach, several swimmers report symptoms
The Port-Vieux beach in Biarritz (Pyrénées-Atlantiques) was closed to swimming this Thursday due to the high concentration of this toxic algae.
Biarritz City Hall has banned "swimming and water sports" at the Port-Vieux beach, "pending further sampling." Photo Sipa/Olivier Coret
The Port-Vieux beach in Biarritz (Pyrénées-Atlantiques) was closed to swimming this Thursday due to a high concentration of toxic microalgae, which had already caused panic and the closure of several beaches on the Basque coast in 2021.
"Sudden intensification""While the presence of the micro-algae ostreopsis had been observed for several days but at moderate levels, its sudden intensification was likely caused by the surge that occurred at the start of the week," the Regional Health Agency (ARS) and the Basque Country Agglomeration Community indicated in a press release.
Several surfers and swimmers in particular have reported to the authorities the occurrence of symptoms specific to the presence of this micro-algae invisible to the naked eye, but "no reports of serious cases have been received," they specified. Biarritz City Hall announced on its website on Thursday that "swimming and water sports will be prohibited" at the Port-Vieux beach, "pending further samples."
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In 2021, several hundred reports of flu-like symptoms, rhinitis, or respiratory irritation alerted local elected officials, who were forced to close the beaches of Biarritz, Bidart, and Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
Ostreopsis ovata, a toxic microalgae well-known in the Mediterranean for several years, is now established on the Basque coast, both in France and Spain. Its presence is a direct consequence of climate change and ocean warming, according to scientists.
A research program bringing together scientists and institutions from both sides of the border in the Basque Country was launched in April 2024. Developed over three years at nine coastal sites, it is designed to help policymakers develop an alert protocol, or even new regulations. There is currently no regulatory threshold for this microalgae.
Le Républicain Lorrain
