Coastal and marine environemental protection

Coastal environments are subject to numerous natural or man made disturbances. To address the consequences of these disturbances, coastal and marine environmental protection policies have been set up both nationwide and in the framework of international institutions where France takes part. They focus on preventing, reducing and eliminating pollution; repairing damage; collecting, processing and disseminating environmental data.

Coastal and marine environmental protection is estimated herein through expenditure indicators which translate how much public effort is dedicated to protection objectives. The indicators presented in this section are examples.

Some components of public expenditure

The amounts of fundings dedicated to the "Urban development, landscape, water and biodiversity" programme have been impacted by the laws 2009-967 of August 2009 and 2010-788 of July 2010 on the implementation of decisions taken after a nationwide environmental forum of 2007. In the State Budgets for 2011 and 2012, these amounts of fundings now include spendings dedicated to water and biodiversity management, to the difference of the 2010 State Budget.

Source: Parliament, report 3812, vol II, initial budget 2012

Specific management costs

Some specific coastal zone and water management costs are useful to follow in relation to coastal and marine environment protection effort.

Waste water management

The total amount of waste water management expenditure decreased for the first time in 2009 compared to the previous year (-1,6%) for several reasons, in particular the decrease in total domestic consumption and in production by waste water emitting economic activities as a result of the economic slowdown.

Waste water management expenditure in France1

1. Specialised enterprises: local authorities' wastewater system administrative services and delegated enterprises, public establishments of inter-municipality co-operation; non-specialised enterprises: all enterprises except specialised enterprises in wastewater system (delegated enterprises)
Sources: SOES, Annual environment accounts

Marine water protection and treatment expenditure

    These spendings include:
  • the prevention of pollutant infiltration (in coastal municipalities and ports),
  • the treatment of polluted soil and water (by the "Polmar" centres). 2007 has been a relevant benchmark year without exceptionnally intense pollution event.

Marine water protection and treatment expenditure in 2007

Sources: SOES, CEDRE Accidental water pollution response centre

Green algae proliferation on North Brittany shores

The yearly amounts of green algae collection are an indicator of local authorities' response, subject to budget constraints, to what is felt as a local damage. At local level, the state administration issues recommended amounts of daily collection. If the yearly collection amounts have been rather cyclical todate, the unit collection cost is steadily increasing.

Collection of green algae on Brittany shores

Source: CEVA Seaweed Research and Processing Centre

Specific protection costs

The Coastal and Lakeshore Conservatory

    The Coastal and Lakeshore Conservatory has around 100 staff in Rochefort (head office), Paris and region offices.
  • The Conservatory's acquired sites are monitored and maintained by 580 coastal shore guards, recruited by local authorities and agencies.
  • About 80% of the Conservatory's budget comes from 90% of the boat and yacht license tax revenue, i.e. a little more than EUR 35 million. The Conservatory receives diverse additional subsidies.

Shoreline length of the Conservatory's acquisitions (km)1

1. Reference 1975; Reference 2009: TOPO® and Parcellaire® databases
Source: CELRL Coastal and Lakeshore Conservatory