Overview

• Shellfish fishing, collection, and sale remain banned in Morbihan, Loire-Atlantique, Vendée, and Finistère due to toxic algae contamination.
• Pseudo-nitzschia australis, a toxic algae producing amnesic toxins, has proliferated rapidly, prompting health warnings about severe neurological risks from contaminated shellfish.
• The bans coincide with the year's largest tides, a traditionally popular period for recreational shellfish fishing, intensifying public and economic impacts.
• Authorities report early signs of improvement in some areas, such as the Baie de Plouharnel, but restrictions will persist until shellfish safety levels are fully restored.
• Climate change and warming waters are cited as factors exacerbating the algae's spread, highlighting broader environmental concerns.