Surveillance écologique et halieutique des sites de centrales nucléaires littorales : évaluation et perspectives

Electricité de France (EDF) has asked Institut Français de recherche pour l'exploitation de la mer (IFREMER) to monitor the coastal marine environment and its living resources around nuclear power plants along the French coast. Started in 1974, these investigations were undertaken in the areas of Gravelines, Le Blayais, Paluel, Flamanville, and Penly; the objective is to detect any impact of the open-circuit water cooling system, as well as any differences in the marine environment itself. To examine this question, IFREMER has set up a program called Impact des Grands Aménagements (IGA). It has evolved according to the results obtained and now integrates the specificity of each site in a global program common to all. The nature and the problems of impact are discussed, as well as the method of approach and some of the results. Above and beyond the question of environmental impact, the information obtained on natural evolution of the coastal marine environment has had repercussions in scientific circles. Relating these results to similar studies, we can expect to improve Our understanding through observation and management of this environment which gives rise to considerable conflicts in use. Furthermore, a better understanding of the natural coastal marine environrnent should enable us to determine whether the phenomena observed might not most frequently be the reflection of natural phenomena and when there is the added effect of power stations, how to manage situations critical for the ecosystem.