Why worry about biodiversity?

A marina has a diverse range of features: riprap, berths, cases, chains... every corner is used. This variety of habitats promotes the installation, growth and reproduction of marine flora and fauna. It is a sheltered zone that, isolated from weather constraints, offers areas of calm waters and relatively constant temperatures, conducive to life.

The marina, a living environment that must be respected

Certain species need to attach themselves to solid structures for their development. The marina facilities are an incredible opportunity! Certain species use the shelter of the marinas for part of the year or part of their life cycle, and then return to the sea. Such is the case of fish larvae and juvenile fish that, the time needed to become adults, are protected from large predators. 

The marina is also the location of marine and land-based human activities: the use of products for the maintenance of boats, oil leaks, organic waste... These pollutants are then trapped in the marina by the sediment or carried by water to nearby beaches. The proliferation of a particular species can be indicative of pollution. 

Actions that promote biodiversity in the marina

The marinas are ISO 14001 certified and focus on reducing port activities at the source by establishing rules and providing users with the appropriate equipment! The quality of water and sediment is thereby improved. It is the guarantee for the enjoyment of water activities in the future!

> Find out more about an exemplary environmental policy

The Port Biodiversity Index, a measure of water quality

Attentive to the impact of marina activities on the environment, Sellor has created a team responsible for implementing, monitoring and communicating the Biodiversity Index of the marinas in the Lorient area.  Developed by researchers at the University of South Brittany, this index has been used to analyse the quality of water in the marinas at Port-Louis and Kernével.
 
Method used: 6 supports are sampled on 3 sites in the marina (entrance, middle and top) Scuba diving operations are carried out to directly identifying the species attached to the supports. Some species are collected in order to perform more in-depth analysis on land.

The specific features of each marina are taken into account in the elaboration of the index. Port-Louis was the first marina audited in 2013 and again in 2014, followed by Kernével in 2014.

>> Port-Louis

Context: established in a natural cove enclosed by a breakwater at the entrance, the marina was expanded in 2009.

Results of the samples:
In 2013 : 6.3/20 The new supports installed in 2009 during the expansion of Port-Louis marina, have not yet been fully colonised. The species typically found on the supports are either not present or present in very small quantities.
In 2014 : 10.7/20 The results show a marked increase. The Port Biodiversity Index precisely follows the evolution of the colonisation of the marina and thus verifies the repopulation of the marina from the headland to Port-Louis.

>> Kernével

Results of the samples in 2014 : 13.3/20 The results are consistent with the expectations of each support: they are rich in diverse fauna and flora. The first site, at the entry to the marina, presents a sub-tidal biodiversity (permanently submerged zone) very close to the natural state, with highly biogenic structures. The second site presents a highly satisfactory colonisation of biodiversity as the subaquatic life quickly recolonised the structures despite the maintenance painting work carried out last winter. The third site presented a restricted sub-tidal zone.

This observation and sampling operation, (9 supports are sampled on 3 sites in the marina) will be conducted every 2 years in the same marina, in order to monitor progress. The marinas at Gâvres, Lorient and Guidel are scheduled for 2015.