About fifteen environmental inspectors from the French Office for Biodiversity and Maritime Affairs carried out a major awareness-raising and monitoring mission this Sunday at Hourdel (Somme), a privileged point of observation of seals.
Each year, tourists are more than a million.
Summer is a critical period for this protected species.
It is that of births and breastfeeding for sea calves.
Last year, with the pandemic, more tourists came, some did not respect the minimum distance to observe the colonies of seals on the sandbanks (600 sea calves and 270 gray seals) and this happened. revealed catastrophic: "There were around 80 births of sea calves," reports Frédéric Fasquel, deputy director of the natural marine park of Picardy estuaries and the Opal Sea.
Due to human disturbances, around thirty cubs were found abandoned.
A few were dead.
Others have been entrusted to health centers.
Adults need rests to sleep, sunbathe and load up on vitamins… ”
Read alsoSeals, stars of the Bay of Somme
On the eve of the summer holidays, this publicized operation was intended to be a punch.
Five teams, including one on board to monitor nautical activities, took part.
No dangerous behavior has been observed but the message is clear: checks are carried out daily and a fine of 750 euros may be imposed.
An awareness brochure on the right actions to adopt was also published.
It will be widely distributed.
"Tiring for animals"
Pierre Jost, deputy prosecutor of the Republic of Amiens, was also on site: “Awareness is privileged.
In the event of a repeat offense, the fine will fall.
We will be more uncompromising with the locals and the guides, ”he warns.
In this sensitive period, however, the disturbances already seem regular: “On Saturday, a mother and her daughter were too close to a mother and her baby.
They both went into the water.
It's tiring for the animals, ”reports Eva, a guide for Rando nature en Somme.
At around 10:35 am, as the tide rises, two seals stealthily point the tip of their noses into the channel.
Tourists descend the cordon of pebbles.
In the water, they do not risk anything: "It's funny to see them but from afar, confide the brilliant eyes Virginie and Pascal, who came a few days from the Moselle with their sons Thomas and Evan.
It is normal that fines are drawn up.
"