Tenders Are Invited For 2026 Monitoring Of Kelp Habitats On The Banche Plateau

The Purpose Of This Consultation Is The 2026 Monitoring Of Kelp Habitats On The La Banche Plateau. The Context And Main Characteristics Are As Follows: Maintenance Dredging Of The Grand Port Maritime De Nantes Saint-Nazaire (Gpmnsn) And Their Immersion In The Lambarde Area Are Authorized By The Interprefectural Decree Of December 27, 2024. Taking Into Account The Proximity Of The “Banche Nord” And “Banche Sud” Stations To The Immersion Zone Of Lambarde, The Gpmnsn Has Continued, Since 2013, The Monitoring Undertaken By The Estuaire Loire Et Vilaine Association (Elv). Indeed, The South Banche Site Is Located On A Rocky Plateau Subject To The Influence Of Southerly Currents And Potentially The Plume Of Turbidity Generated By Immersions, While The North Banche Site, Which Is Sheltered From These Currents By A Rock Barrier, Is Protected From These Immersions And Serves As A Reference In Order To Integrate Annual Variations. The Protocol Applied To These Nine Sites Is Based On The “Subtidal Macroalgae Indicator” Developed By The Mnhn To Meet The Requirements Of The Wfd (Water Framework Directive). This Involves Evaluating The Characteristics (Density, Growth, Distribution, Algal Biodiversity) Of The Algal Populations. The Decree Of 12/27/2024 Reaffirms This Annual Monitoring Of Kelp In The Banche Sector. The Mission Thus Consists Of Carrying Out The 2026 Scientific Monitoring Of Kelp Habitats On The Banche Plateau, As Part Of The Regulatory Monitoring Of Gpmnsn Dredging. It Includes: - Mapping The Perimeter Of Kelp On And Around The Plateau, - Monitoring The Banche Nord And Banche Sud Stations According To The Dce “Subtidal Macroalgae” And Ecbrs Protocols, - Collecting And Analyzing Biological And Environmental Data, - Producing An Annual Report Consolidating The Results, Illustrated With Maps, And Evaluating The Evolution Of Kelp Populations As Well As The Potential Impact Of Gpmnsn Immersions.