Cyanobacteria: the economic consequences for affected nautical bases

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After ten days of closure, swimming is once again possible at Lake Chassenon (Vendée). This is due to cyanobacteria , microorganisms that thrive, particularly in summer, during intense heat. These bacteria are dangerous to humans, and in some cases even fatal. This is enough to worry some visitors.

Cyanobacteria means guaranteed closure and unsold entrance tickets. At Lake Chassenon, ten days without swimming means nearly €10,000 less revenue for the municipality. So, the town hall may have found the solution: an XXL slide that runs on fresh water, independent of the lake. An investment of more than €200,000 allows the base to remain open with tickets sold at half price. A way to avoid relying solely on the lake. "Even if it rains or there are a few cyanobacteria for a few days, we don't go back to zero. We always have the potential to attract people to the site," assures Michel Bossard, president of the Vendée Sèvre Autise Community of Communes.

Swimming remains a favorite activity for children and a breath of fresh air for parents. At the large leisure center in Jablines-Annet (Seine-et-Marne), the water is closely monitored. Unannounced checks are carried out twice a month. If a cyanobacteria alert is found in the analyses, around a hundred jobs would be at risk. The future of the center is threatened. "The swimming activity represents a million euros in the budget. If we closed it, yes, we might have fewer staff, but we would also have much less income," says Cyrille Marchadour, general manager of the Jablines-Annet leisure center. By 2024, 200 of the 4,000 swimming spots had to close temporarily due to cyanobacteria.

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