“maritime hunting is a way of life”

“We live to the rhythm of the tides, the winds and the moon,” enthuses Aurélien Noble, living in Brouage, private guard of the ACM, the Association for the management of maritime hunting in the department. The man confirms that it is possible to hunt on the Charente-Maritime coast, in certain areas of the island of Ré, Oléron, Seudre, Marennes, Port-des-Barques. Even in Saint-Froult, near the Moëze-Oléron nature reserve managed by the LPO (League for the Protection of Birds). “They are putting obstacles in our way but all the impact studies have shown that our hunting activity is neutral in relation to the environment,” explains Aurélien Noble. Coastal hunters target waterfowl, particularly geese, ducks and waders.

“It’s a way of life where sometimes we don’t kill anything at all, we are lovers of the coast,” insists the Brouageais hunter. Maritime hunting is open from August 5 but “in tourist areas we abstain and wait until September 16 to start”. The guns then fall silent from January 31.