Environmental police mobilized on protected natural sites on the Hérault coast, during the opening of waterfowl hunting

Objectif : sensibiliser les usagers du site à ce patrimoine naturel. DR – CEN Occitanie

This joint environmental police operation was conducted on the protected natural sites of Salines de Villeneuve and the Etang de Vic, on the occasion of the opening of waterfowl hunting, on Wednesday 21 August.

In the municipalities of Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone, Mireval and Vic-la-Gardiole, the protected natural sites of Salines de Villeneuve and Étang de Vic were the subject of a joint environmental police operation this Wednesday, August 21, on the occasion of the opening of waterfowl hunting in the inland marshes.

From 5:30 a.m., 8 agents from several services (Coastal Guards, French Biodiversity Office, Private Game Wardens) mobilized to ensure the smooth running of hunting activity on the sites of the Conservatory of Natural Spaces (CEN Occitanie) of the coast.

In total, 31 hunters were checked as compliant. The agents monitor several elements:
– Presentation of individual administrative supporting documents,
– Type of ammunition used,
– Species of birds hunted and quantity of catches per hunter.

Patrols for six months of the year

This area of ​​the Conservatoire du littoral, managed by Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole, Sète Agglopôle Méditerranée and the CEN Occitanie, is home to remarkable biodiversity and landscapes; a common heritage that must be preserved.

For six months of the year, four voluntary civic services from CEN Occitanie crisscross the sites to raise awareness among users of the site about this heritage. The six Coast Guards from Sète Agglopôle Méditerranée and CEN Occitanie ensure,
they ensure compliance with the regulations in force on these sites, regulated by prefectural decrees.