Toxic Tyres to be Removed from the Mediterranean
An artificial reef of tyres was placed in the 1980's
Although tyres can remain intact for decades, environmental agencies and marine biologists are now concerned that component breakdown could cause toxic damage.
The artificial reef, consisting of around 25,000 tyres, was placed in the waters between Cannes and Antibes between 1980 and 1982. The aim was to create a reef that would encourage fish to return to the area, thus developing fish production and small-scale commercial fishing on the coast.
Highly toxic chemicals are used in the production of tyres, such as sulphur, chromium, and zinc and so there is now a plan in place to remove the reef and restore the marine environment.
“The goal is to restore the integrity of the marine environment, throughout which the tyres have spread in recent decades, and to avoid any alterations to habitats of European interest at this site,” said a representative from Natura 2000 to France 3.
In the 1980's the reef here in Cannes and Antibes was the largest operation of its kind in France.
