Associations denounce a premature decision by the Government concerning wind turbines in the Mediterranean

"We are not opposed to wind turbine projects at sea, but the preliminary studies are weak or not carried out," said Serge Briez, president of the association Les peuple de la mer.

As a result, "the real impact" on seabirds, cetaceans, such as the bottlenose dolphin, or large fish, "remains unknown", he added.

Prime Minister Jean Castex launched two calls for tenders on Monday to build two floating wind farms in the Mediterranean Sea by 2030, which could then supply electricity to one million people.

However, many participants in a vast public debate on the installation of floating wind turbines in the Mediterranean organized between last July and October had asked for the postponement of these projects in order to better study their effects on the environment.

"Everything happens as if we had to play at asking people's opinions while believing that their lack of skills was impairing their judgment", regretted Michèle Solans, from the TNE (All Our Energies) Occitanie Environnement collective.

"This can only lead to further alienate citizens who have understood that they are only consulted so that they validate decisions already taken", she added.

For Kevin Jeanroy, of the Sites and Monuments association, "after a very enriching debate, we realize that we are being taken a bit by boat".

“We are against this industrial, giant, super-powerful wind turbine,” he said, advocating the installation of “small wind or photovoltaic generators” “adapted to local needs”.