Natura 2000 Award - 2020 winner - Communications award

The 2020 winner promoted knowledge and good boating practices on thecoast of Armor (Brittany, France), stretching across 400 km. It has an outstanding biodiversity that has been recognised at the EU level through the designation of three Natura 2000 sites: "Côte de Granit Rose-Sept-Iles", "Trégor-Goëlo" and "Rivière Leguer, forêts de Beffou, Coat an Nozet Coat an Hay". A recent survey, however, showed that many boaters in the region had little knowledge of good boating practices or of thepossible environmental consequences of their activities. This has already led to the degradation of valuable habitats (e.g. Zostera seagrass due to mooring) and the disturbance of sensitive species (birds and marine mammals such as grey seals). The impact of boat waste is also usually greatly underestimated. During the Ceremony, César Luena, Member of the European Parliement, underlined the “positive impacts of the project on Natura 2000 habitats and species” and how clearly the project “defined problems and involved stakeholders in solutions with effective communication aspects and materials”.

In light of this, an environmental awareness campaign was launched in the summer of 2019 (from 15 June to 15 September) aimed at boaters, managers of port infrastructures, tourists and recreational anglers. The purpose was to help them minimise their impact on the environment. Six topics were chosen: bird watching, mammal spotting, anti-fouling, blackwater and grey water, waste management, mooring and seagrass beds, and recreational fishing. “We have a wonderful situation in our Natura 2000 sites but the habitats are also very fragile. We worked with all the involved stakeholders to understand how to improve the habitats,” said Ms Bras-Denis, vice-president of Lannion Trégor Communauté, representing the winning project at the Ceremony.

With the help of the stakeholders themselves, the partnership developed information kits on six topics, a booklet (also in English), a poster, a series of short videos and an informative website. Two ambassadors were also appointed to help broadcast the message. In the end, the mediators raised awareness amongst 600 people, undertook 338 individual enquiries, involved 32 boating associations, distributed the kits and other material in 60 distribution points, and participated in 28 nautical events. “Perhaps a key element for our success is to have set up a team of stakeholders, and to have tested different ways to communicate with our ambassadors active along the shore, at sea and in harbours, meeting people on the ground,” explained Mrs Bras-Denis.

The campaign has been very effective. Post campaign surveys showed that 85% of the boaters involved were keen to improve their practices in relation to at least one of the six themes of the campaign. The project was also innovative in that it was run as a joint venture between three Natura 2000 local council management structures and SAGE sponsors who are responsible for marine water quality (Lannion-Trégor Communauté, Guingamp-Paimpol Agglomération and the Pôled’Equilibre Territorial et Rural du Pays de Guingamp). It was funded by the French Agency for Biodiversity. Because of the campaign’s success, plans were afoot to repeat the campaign and the surveys in 2020.

On 15 June 2022, - the Lannion-Trégor Communauté organised a local event to celebrate winning the Natura 2000 Award Communication category (2020 edition).  The event, which highlighted the achievement of the “Eau la la !!! Eco-tips for sea and shore!” application was held at the “Trégor-Goëlo” and “Pink Granite Coast – Sept-Iles” Natura 2000 sites.  

Representatives of the European Commission, local elected officials, as well as members of stakeholder target groups including the local yachting association attended the event. The participants began the day with a trip by kayak to discover bird nesting sites and learn about how they are commonly disturbed. The participants reconvened at the port of Rébeurden to join a walking tour led by a member of the regional Natura 2000 office. The tour encompassed a presentation of the actions implemented within the framework of Natura 2000 to restore valuable eelgrass (Zostera) beds in mooring areas.  

The event ended with a presentation of the Natura 2000 Award, as well as speeches from the EU Commission representative Jérémie Crespin as well as local elected representatives.