Biodiversity Hotspots and Endemic Species

French coastal waters harbor remarkable biodiversity, including species found nowhere else. The Iroise Sea off Brittany contains Europe's largest kelp forest and its most diverse seaweed communities—over 300 species that support traditional harvesting and modern biotechnology. The area's marine mammals include resident bottlenose dolphins, grey seals pupping on isolated beaches, and occasional visits from fin whales, the world's second-largest animals.

Corsica's isolation has produced numerous endemic species. The Corsican red coral grows in deeper, cooler waters than its mainland cousins, developing unique characteristics prized by jewelers. Hermann's tortoise maintains its last French populations in coastal maquis, while Audouin's gull nests on offshore islets. The island's waters support populations of groupers and dentex eliminated elsewhere by overfishing, making Corsican marine reserves crucial for Mediterranean conservation.

Seabirds link marine and terrestrial ecosystems, transferring nutrients from sea to land through their guano. The Sept-Îles off Brittany host France's only northern gannet colony—20,000 pairs whose plunge-diving spectacle attracts thousands of visitors. Scopoli's shearwaters nest in Corsican cliffs, their nocturnal cries earning them the local name "devil birds." Storm petrels, smallest of seabirds, nest in stone walls and cliff crevices, venturing far offshore to feed on plankton.

The French coast's position on major migration routes makes it internationally important. The Baie de Somme sees 350,000 birds annually, from Arctic-breeding knots to African-wintering spoonbills. The Camargue hosts 400 bird species, making it one of Europe's premier birdwatching destinations. These migrations connect French coasts to global ecosystems, making local conservation internationally significant.