Proposer: Marine Biology Station – Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle - Concarneau – France.

Name: Yves LE GAL

e-mail address: ylegal@mnhn.fr

Glenan Archipelago and Concarneau Bay

Location : South Britanny – France – 10 miles South off Concarneau

The Glenan archipelago is constituted by a series of rocky granite islands covering approximatively 50 Km² surrounding sandy zones. This "Lagoon"-like structure is unique on the Atlantic coast. It is part of the series of islands of the so-called Armorican pre-continent. This primary site is facing a coastal system of rias and short estuaires (tidal systems).

Industrial pollution: None

Agricultural pollution: None

Mining: None

Dumping: None

Dredging: Locally (maërl beds)

The archipelago is practically devoid of permanent inhabitant (in any case the number is below 5-10). Construction is stricly restricted and no population growth will occur. However, during the summer period there is a relatively important tourist activity (see below).

Solid garbages are sorted out and periodically sent back by th way of a special barge to the continent for upgrading.

Due to the shortage of freshwater in the islands toilet sewage is of a "dry toilet" type. liquid effluents are sent back to the continent at the end of tourist season.

Most of the energy is obtained from renewable forms : photo cells, wind mills. This programme has been carried out by the commune of Fouesnant within the framework of the LIFE Programme (Sustainable tourism). As a consequence there is practically no output in the sea.

Commercial fishing is diverses in a rea around isles of Glenan where only small boats (<12 m) can operate and trawling is prohibited. These activities can be classified in 5 kinds according to target species.

- Purseine : 8 boats are working throughout the year : target species are blue fishes (Sardina pilchardus, Scomber scombrus, Engraulis encrasicolus, Sprattu sprattus).

- Net : targets species , hake (Merlucius merlucius), pollack Pollachius pollachius), whiting (Merlangius merlangius), dover sole (Solea solea).

- Hand line and longline : targets species , bass (Dicentrachus labrax).

- Crustacean pots : the most important species are Spider crab, lobster and shrimp.

- Dregde for shell : the most important species are scallop during the winter (Tapes and Spisula; A seasonal activity concerns sea urchins.

During spring-summer period 2 islands welcome a sailing school (average /week). Free sailing is rather important in july, august (average 50-60 boats per day with a peak (up to 150 during week ends). Promenade boats are allowed to land only on one island (St-Nicolas) : Peak frequentation : 1500 – 2000 individuals during july-august on the archipelago.

Waters in the Glenan archipelago are particularly clear, due mainly to the lagoon-like structure and the absence of important estuary around. For the same last reason, temperature range is typically 6-8° (February, 15-18° (September). salinity is quite constant.

As far as chemical and physical data are concerned, the area is under permanent survey by RNO (Reseau National d’Observation – national Network of survey) since 1998 (Point : Mousterlin). The data collected are clearly demonstrating the cleanless of the waters (see : www.ifremer.fr/ ) The area is also under permanent survey for bacteria and for toxic planctonic blooms (Ifremer networks).

The archipelago presents a very diversified panel of facies in the laminarian biocenosis. This is a consequence of the lagoon-like structure of the islands : all the grades in the scale of water agitation can be found. Another consequence is the complex mosaïc of sedimentary and rocky bottoms. The junctions of these different systems : laminarians, maërl, zostera , etc are particularly rich.

As far as the rocky global biomass is concerned, the Glenan zone is less rich than some areas of the North coast of Britanny but richer than the sector of Brest-Iroise. This difference is mainly linked to algal population.

In addition , the archipelago comprises several remarkable populations : Pollicipes cornucopiaie, Paracentrotus lividus, bushes of Holidrys siliquosa.

Very dense laminarian foests (Sacchoriza bulbosa, Laminaria hyperborea) concentrations of Cystoseita.

At a biogeographical point of view the glenan archipelago is situated at the northern limit of meridionnal and at the southern limit of septentrional influences. This results in a unique mixing of many species and biota.

List the range of habitats present at the site:-

Littoral

Rock: Very exposed to sheltered

Sand: Beaches exposed to sheltered

Mud:

Sublittoral

Rock: Bed rocks, vertical cliffs, overhangs

Sand:

Mud: Locally

Seagrass beds: Yes

Maerl beds

The Glenan site has been studied reguarly for more than 120 years (see annex for publications relative to inventories).

For what groups of organisms are comprehensive inventories available? Please list major taxa in each category below, and list publications.

Macrobenthos: Sponges, hydrozoa, bryozoa, anthozoa, ascidians

Meiobenthos: -

Microbenthos: -

Zooplankton: -

Phytobenthos: Algae

Phytoplankton:Permanent survey (Rephy) by Ifremer.

List any other publications relating specifically to the biodiversity or environment at the site.

List publications relating to historical/time-series data at the site.

Is biodiversity information available in electronic form? If so, what is the nature of the database (CD-ROM, web-site)?

The whole archipelago is a classified site (protection of nature and patrimony). The St-Nicolas island comprises also a botanical reserve.

The marine environment of the Archipelago comprises several zones classified ZNIEFF (zones naturelles d’intérêt faunistique et floristique). It is also included as zone FR 53 000 23 in the programme Natura 2000. Fish trawling and scuba fishing is forbidden. Other fishing practices (scallops, Haliotis, sea urchins, stricky regulated).

What conservation legislation (national, European, international) is currently in place, how well is it implemented and how long will it last?

How accessible is the location?

Is it limited seasonally (e.g. not accessible in winter)? NO

Is it accessible by car or by boat (indicate means of transport and distance from laboratory facilities in km)?

10 miles from Concarneau. Regular service in spring-summer.

What is the status of local facilities:-

Laboratory: Marine Biology Station. Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle -

Boats: 1 (8.50 m) All collection facilities.

Are these facilities available for guest researchers? Yes

What facilities are there for SCUBA diving? SCUBA facilities in Concarneau and on St-Nicolas Island

What housing is available? In relation with sailing and diving clubs. Municipal housing.

List the sources of funding currently in place specifically for biodiversity research at this site (from where and how much).

Mainly Ministry of Environment and Regions of Britanny.

List by name the persons currently involved in biodiversity research at this site, their roles and the percentage of their time spent on this research.

- Claude BEAUPOIL 50 %

- Annie CASTRIC 50 %

- Sandrine COURTEL 50 %

- Pierre NOEL 20 %

- Thomas BARTOLOMAEUS 10 %

In addition staff and members of the Associations for the Discovery of the Sub-marine World (150 members biologist divers).

The coast and the estuary system facing the Glenan archipelago is proposed as a satelite site (100 km from Penmarch to Quiberon).

The main characteristics of this coast is the presence of a series of estuaries corresponding to short (a few kms) or medium length 20 to 50 km rivers. These estuaries are strongly affected by the tides. As a whole the system is a major component of the productivity in the surrounding (particularly fish nurseries).

Several of these estuaries have been studied for 2 or 3 decades. one of them (Laïta) was strongly polluted (paper mill, agrofood) and is still under recovery and constitute a paradigm for the follow up of this type of process.

This site can be considered as a hot spot for marine biodiversity in east-north Atlantic waters and as really pristine from chemical and physical pollution. It is relatively far from the continent as well as classical cargos roads.

Important measures of for the protection of the environment have been taken in due time. It concerns tourist behaviour as well as commercial fishing practices.

The presence of the centuries old Marine Station at Concarneau, linked to the National Museum of Natural History garantees the conservation of archives as well as the follow up of ecological surveys. This is completed by existent collaboration with the University of Western Britanny (80 km) and growing collaborations with the universities of Bielefeld and Göttingen.