Arcachon Bay
Arcachon Basin or alternatively Arcachon Bay is a bay of the Atlantic Ocean on the southwest coast of France, situated in Pays de Buch between the Côte d'Argent and the Côte des Landes, in the region of Aquitaine. The bay covers an area of at high tide and at low tide. Some of its geological features are natural preservation areas.
The general shape of the Bassin d'Arcachon is that of an equilateral triangle pointing north, the southwest corner of which is open to the sea, between Cap Ferret and the town of Arcachon, through a narrow channel. On the north shore is the town of Arès, then Andernos-les-Bains on the northeast. Just south of the entrance is the Dune of Pilat. Nearly in the middle of the bay is a very particular island: L'île aux Oiseaux.
Development
In the past, similar areas became lakes and are nowadays filled with fresh water. On the French Atlantic coast, running north–south between the Gironde estuary to the Adour River mouth, are the Lac d'Hourtin-Carcans, the Lac de Lacanau, the Étang de Cazaux et de Sanguinet, the Étang de Biscarrosse et de Parentis, the Étang d'Aureilhan, the Étang de Léon, the Étang de Soustons, Étang Hardy, Étang Blanc and the Étang de Garros. Arcachon Bay is the last water area that remains open to the ocean.The Bassin still has a link to the sea, possibly due to the Eyre River that runs from the Landes forest and has its mouth in its southeast corner. Otherwise, the Bassin would have become blocked by the sandbanks built up by the tides.
Arcachon Bay fish
The brackish and productive waters of the Bay of Arcachon make them ideal for hosting a wide variety of organisms, including but not limited to those belonging to the families Sparidae, Mugilidae, and Triglidae. This fauna is typical from shallow-temperate waters and generally common along the northeastern and eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean sea.Twenty-seven species of fish found in Arcachon bay include: ''
Within the family Sparidae:Boops boops also known by the name of BoguePagellus bogaraveo also known by the name of Blackspot seabreamDentex dentex also known by the name of Common dentexDiplodus annularis also known by the name of Annular seabreamPagellus erythrinus also known by the name of King of the breamsSarpa salpa also known by the name of DreamfishDiplodus puntazzo also known by the name of Sheapshed seabreamDiplodus sargus also known by the name of White seabreamLithognathus mormyrus also known by the name of Striped seabreamSpondyliosoma cantharus also known by the name of Black seabreamPagellus acarne also known by the name of Spanish seabreamPagrus pagrus also known by the name of Red porgyDiplodos cervinus also known by the name of Zebra seabreamDiplodus vulgaris also known by the name of Two banded seabreamOblada melanura also known by the name of Saddled seabream
Within the Mugilidae family:Liza ramada also known by the name of Thin-lipped mulletChelon labrosus also known by the name of Thick-lipped mulletLiza saliens also known by the name of Leaping mulletLiza aurata also known by the name of Golden grey mulletMugil chephalus also known by the name of Striped mulletOedalechilus labeo also known by the name of Boxlip mullet
Within the Triglidae family:Aspitrigla cuculus also known by the name of Red gurnardTrigla lucerna also known by the name of Tub gurnardEutrigla gurnardus also known by the name of Grey gurnardTrigloporus lastoviza also known by the name of Streaked gurnardTrigla lyra also known by the name of PiperAspitrigla obscura also known by the name of Long-finned gurnard
Arcachon Bay has been experiencing a decrease in the number of these particular species within the general area of the bay. The decreasing population of these species can be attributed to their low fertility rates and inherent low mortality rates, with humans representing their primary threat as predators.
Additionally, other species within the area include; Phocoenidae, Squatina, Bathytoshia, and Crassostrea gigas . Arcachon Bay has been continuously well renowned for its oyster cultivation, fishing, and recreational boating pursuits. Oysters are a key species to the area of Arcachon Bay. Throughout the years Arcachon Bay has been known for its plentiful supply of oysters, making it a known and common place for oyster farming and fishing. These oysters have been in much demand in the French market as there has been a robust gathering of 7,000 tons within the area as of 2017. However, since 1998 there has been a decline in oyster population due to both human and environmental influences. Much of this can be attributed to pollution. These changes in the natural habitat have led to higher mortality rates, reducing much of the oyster population. An important species contributing not only to diversity but also the progression of human development over the years.