Discussions around recession of the coastline took place on the occasion of the 106e edition of the congress of mayors. Faced with numerous testimonies from mayors of the municipalities concerned, the audience wondered if France was not behind on the subject.
Retreat of the coastline: 500 municipalities concerned
The director in charge of risks, water, maritime at Cerema, Sébastien Dupray, sets the framework with national data on low-lying areas for 2024. According to the figures, 20% of the coasts are currently in retreat, which represents around 900 km of coastline. 500 municipalities are affected by the retreat of the coastline.
Or total, 30km2 lost in 50 years: approximately the area of 4,200 football fields. Finally, 16,000 coastal protection works have been identified in the national cartography of coastal works and developments.
A decline in the coastline experienced differently depending on the municipalities
The testimonies continue. The mayor of Riec-sur-BélonSébastien Miossec, Yannick Moreau, mayor of Sables d'Olonnethe mayor of BidartEmmanuel Alzuri or even representatives from Overseas with Madi Madi Souf, mayor of Pamandzi et Wilfrid Weiss, mayor of Koumac ;everyone has the same observation. Sébastien Miossec sums it up well: “Our coast is fragile, but the decline is not physically experienced in the same way for me as for others.”
For him, it is more than time to find tools adapted to the territoriescar “we need flexibility and confidence in the territories.” According to Sébastien Miossec, it is the role of mayors of “take charge of these subjects: it’s up to us to build the strategies best suited to responding to the problems”he says.
Towards a national strategy: “We’re not there yet.”
In addition to being mayor of Sables d'Olonne, Yannick Moreau is president of the national association of coastal elected officials (Anel). For him, the territories “innovate a lot, depending on different local realities.”
There exists two major issues : conjugate with the present tense, “now anticipate phenomena that will be increased” and combine local strategies with a national coastline strategy. “More We're not there yet”he laments.
The State should quickly put in place a legal and financial framework. “We need clarity on what we have the right to do, what we do not have the right to do, what we can encourage or discourage”he lists. Yannick Moreau insists, government instability clearly slows down the implementation of a road map : “We work but we don’t give birth.“ An analysis shared by Dominique Capco-chair of the AMF Littoral working group.
Retreat of the coastline: what about financing?
Sébastien Dupray reminds us that the costing to fight against the decline of the coastline cannot be national “because there is no miracle solution to be implemented on all the coasts of France.“
For his part, Dominique Cap leans towards national solidarity. For financing, two possible solutions: “either the taxpayer or the user”he says. Dominique Cap prefers to focus on the user based ones 110 million nights in the municipalities concerned. “For those who want to enjoy the coastline, why not explain to them the importance of participating in its maintenance. A sort of coastal solidarity contribution” he explains.
