Ecological and fisheries monitoring of the Gravelines nuclear power plant November 2008 - October 2009

This is the 32. annual surveillance report concerning the nuclear power plant of Gravelines. Its very high power level results from six plant units located on the shore and is characterised by a cooling system with a coastal surface input and output. The production of electricity began in 1980 and reached maximum in 1986. Surveillance studies concern monitoring of fish populations (larvae and eggs of Sole and Sprat) or crustaceans (shrimps), benthic system (intertidal and sub-tidal) and pelagic system (hydrology, microbiology, phytoplankton, zooplankton). This survey deals with spatial and temporal approaches (i) study of the direct impact by comparison of the input and output seawater stations, (ii) study of medium and long term evolution of the area by comparison with a reference station. (authors)