A toxic microalgae is the subject of a cross-border research program. The objective is to understand its exponential growth in the Basque Country.
In the summer of 2021, it caused the closure of several beaches and created a wave of panic. The toxin contained in the algae can then be released into the sea spray if the body of water is agitated. According to scientists, its presence, noted in particular on the coast between Bilbao and San Sebastian as far as Biarritz, is a direct consequence of climate change and ocean warming. But several factors also contribute to favoring its growth: the coastal riprap which facilitates its fixation and waters at more than 20 degrees. The program is designed to help political decision-makers develop an alert protocol or even new regulations thanks to a budget of 2.2 million euros, financed by European funds to the tune of 1.4 million euros. The algae had already been observed as early as 2007, said Jose Ignacio Asensio, deputy for the province of Gipuzkoa.