The north shore of the estuary has a great wealth that is accessible in most municipalities: magnificent sandy beaches that extend for tens of kilometers. In order to minimize the deterioration of the most fragile sectors and to mitigate the negative impacts of the use of beaches by humans, the ZIP Committee and its partners decided that it was essential first and foremost to establish an action plan aimed at the protection and/or restoration of beaches experiencing the greatest sources of disturbance.
The objective of this report is to present the main issues specific to beaches on the North Shore. In order to meet this objective, in 2009, 26 beaches on the north shore of the estuary were visited and characterized. For each of them, the following information was noted: the nature of the soil, the relief, the vegetation present, the length and width of the accesses, the presence of reception and awareness-raising facilities and the morphology of each beach. Particular attention was paid to the observation of environmental issues. Subsequently, the measures and recommendations to be taken for the sustainable maintenance of these coastal habitats were identified.