"The Landes has a date with history": the department sets up year-round beach surveillance

This system will be operational from October ^1st and will be implemented with the ongoing recruitment of 24 lifeguards. It will be effective along the 106 kilometers of the Landes coastline.

"It's done in Australia, it will now be done in the Landes." With these words, Hervé Bouyrie, president of the Landes Mixed Bathing Management Union (SMGBL), formalized, this Friday, August ¹ , 2025, during a press conference organized a few meters from the Messanges coastline, the implementation of a system "unique of its kind in Europe": that of the annual security of Landes beaches. Information that "Sud Ouest" revealed exclusively on April 28.

The union is therefore partnering with the Departmental Council to implement this system, which will be operational from October ^1st , "drawing inspiration from the Australian model." "It's an ambitious and innovative shift," notes Xavier Fortinon, President of the Landes Departmental Council.

This program, dubbed "Lifeguards with XL Power," will provide year-round surveillance along the 106 kilometers of the Landes coastline. To this end, 24 lifeguards—all full-time—will be recruited starting October ^1st . The process has begun. "Candidates have until August 5th to submit their applications. We currently have around sixty," reveals Stéphanie Barneix, director of the SMGBL and the driving force behind this innovative program.

The staff will therefore be divided into three poles. One for the southern sector from Tarnos to Moliets, another in the center which will extend from Vielle-Saint-Girons to Mimizan and finally, one in the north for Biscarrosse and all the lake areas of the department (including Arjuzanx and Lake Ménasse in Saint-Pierre du Mont).

"Obviously, during the off-season, there's no question of traditional surveillance," warns President Hervé Bouyrie. These will involve regular patrols along the coastline, carried out by personnel recruited accordingly, from October to May. Their mission is to "maintain awareness and information for users." "We can see this clearly. Accidents generally occur outside of supervised areas and often outside of the summer," insist the project leaders.

Another major challenge is strengthening the prevention system, particularly among schoolchildren. "Missions will be conducted with the National Education system to enable workshops to be set up in schools," notes Hervé Bouyrie. "It is essential to reach out to young people to raise their awareness about water safety and environmental protection." Also in this vein, experiments with swimming lessons in natural environments for schoolchildren will be carried out in the Landes region. "At the end of their training, children know how to swim. But when they arrive at a lake or the ocean, you can no longer see the bottom of the pool," emphasizes Stéphanie Barneix. This is a way to "acculturate them to the real conditions of the ocean environment."

This program will be complemented by the creation of a traveling initiation and improvement center. A way to train the lifeguards of tomorrow. "This awareness and initiation program is designed to extend from kindergarten through to taking up the position from the age of 18," says Stéphanie Barneix. These courses will be provided by lifeguards recruited from several municipalities, "on Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings."

The implementation of this XL surveillance system is necessary due to the observation of the increase in beach attendance. This is to respond to "a surge in vacationers and tourists that now extends well beyond the traditional summer season," says President Fortinon. One figure testifies to this enthusiasm. "Since the Covid crisis, the number of tourists has increased from 23.3 million people to 26.8 million in 2024, while accommodation capacities have remained stable," he argues. Last year, 22% of tourist arrivals chose the pre-season (April to June) and 12% the off-season, from September to October.

"The Landes region has a date with history," says Stéphanie Barneix. The department is unashamedly proud of being a pioneer of its kind. And of welcoming even more people while ensuring its coastline is exceptionally safe.