Protecting the magnificent waves of a landscape for future generations: in western France, a municipality has voted to create the “first reserve” of waves in the country to preserve this heritage from all the intervention of person.
On the “Wild Coast of Quiberon”, the waves of the Atlantic Ocean pounding the jagged cliffs don’t seem threatened. However, the Breton town of Saint-Pierre-Quiberon voted in February to create a “wave reserve” of approximately 30 hectares, in order to “preserve and promote their wealth and quality”.
In its declaration of public utility, the town hall described the “extraordinary waves” that constitute a “heritage and natural, sporting, socio-economic and cultural resource”.
The appearance does not change, however the waves will surely die, explains the association France Hydrodiversité, which wants to protect them, such asNGO Californian ” Save the waves “.
“Waves” mean the most famous waves, those that have their place in novels, paintings, guide descriptions, those that attract thousands of tourists and surfers until they are named .
” The waves are weak and human interventions can threaten them, threaten their quality, or cause its loss. “
The mythical wave of “La Barre” in Anglet in southwestern France, a meeting place for the most seasoned surfers in the 1960s, so disappeared after the construction of a dyke at the entrance to the port that changed the dynamics of the currents and the sedimentology.
In the Spanish Basque Country, the Mundaka wave, considered one of the best in Europe for wave sports, has faded after dredging that altered the nature of the land.
At the origin of the Saint-Pierre-Quiberon initiative, Breton surfer Erwan Simon, co-founder of France Hydrodiversité.
We protect biodiversity, but the waves are not alive and have no legal status in France. However, each wave is different and hydrodiversity, the diversity of water forms and movements, must be protected where it is noticeable.reasoning of Mr. Simon, stating that such reserves already exist in Peru, the United States and Australia.
If there is no legal value, the young Breton “reserve” is still symbolic. We conduct never allow sand extraction jobs or any other industrial event that may have an impact on the shape of the waves.said Mayor Stéphanie Doyen.
” The interest for us is to dedicate the heritage character of these waves to attracting many people, while remembering their vulnerability and the importance of protecting them. “
The waves provide many services for the marine environmentexplained Mr. Touron-Gardic. They participate in the transport of sediments, enable gaseous water-atmosphere exchanges and form a favorable environment for some marine species.appeals to researchers who want to make it a “tool for protecting the environment”.
There will always be waves on the shore. This contributes to many connections between the environment, the ocean and the local coastal environment.Julien Touboul, deputy director at the Institute of Ocean Sciences in Marseille in southeastern France, believes his part.
The idea is to identify the wave as an extraordinary phenomenon that specifically occurs in an areareasoning by Frédéric Habasque, geologist and co-founder of the association.
If a wave is lost, we cannot find it. Even if scientists try to model the waves using artificial reefs, they will not be able to artificially recreate the Quiberon wave.he assured.
Source: Radio-Canada
