The Nature Reserve and fishing activities

EThis autumn 1995, we discovered that the only remaining cockle beds in the Bay of the
Somme were located in the Nature Reserve. Cockle gathering was carried normally in accordance to the decree. The low density of cockles has led the General Council to try a recording operation to the north of the site. The Nature Reserve personnel contributed to this operation by defining it and helping to carry it out.

Oystercatchers and cockles
In good years, the Bay of the Somme is amongst the most important cockle producing sites in France. It also harbours vast numbers of Oystercatchers (a Wader which feeds essentially on this mollusc). The head of the Reserve, Patrick Triplet, has been working for several years now on the relationship between this bird and the shells. In November he was able to measure his results with those obtained by British and Dutch scientists ; a specialist meeting was held in Wales as part of an international programme aiming to determine the impact of cockles on bird migratory stopovers. A new meeting will be held in October 1996 in the Bay of the Somme

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Coastal Picardy pays its homage to Max Lejeune

Founding President of the SMACOPI



LM. Max Lejeune’s recent death has led us to alter the editorial of this 4th newsletter. All those who knew him are heartbroken.
Having accompanied him over 40 years in his public life, I will be allowed I think, beyond political issues, to say how sensitive I am to the homage paid to him for all he has done for our coastline.
From 1974 to 1982, as part of the Coastal Picardy planning studies, he relentlessly recommended that the area’s exceptional high quality natural heritage be preserved; this is the message he left me with when I succeed him as President of the SMACOPI.
We have been faithful to this and will remain so in memory of him. The year 1995 is coming to an end. The team at the SMACOPI, its manager and myself all send you our best wishes for the year 1996 and hope you will spend pleasant end of year festivities.

André LEDUC Président of the SMACOPI