Bay of Biscay - Environment

On the continental shelf, the transport is driven by tides and wind, with buoyancy important off major rivers during periods of high run-off. The most conspicuous upper layer mesoscale features are a poleward-flowing slope current in autumn and winter, and wind-induced coastal upwelling in spring and summer.
Eutrophication does not appear to be a problem in this region, although an apparent increase in the occurrence of harmful algal blooms has been reported in recent decades. Mariculture is mainly confined to the cultivation of bivalve molluscs (mussels, oysters and clams) and its impact is usually minimal.