Jellyfish Cause Major Problems for French Nuclear Plant

A massive influx of jellyfish has forced the shutdown of three reactors at the Gravelines nuclear power plant in northern France, the largest in Western Europe. The marine creatures have clogged the pumps essential for cooling the facility, leading to a significant reduction in power generation.

According to Électricité de France (EDF), the state-owned utility, three reactors were taken offline on Monday. Production was also halved at a fourth reactor. Only one of the plant's six reactors was operating at full capacity, with another already offline for scheduled maintenance. EDF stated that the situation poses no risk to the safety of the plant, its employees, or the environment.

This incident adds to a challenging year for France's nuclear power output. The country has grappled with extreme heat and drought, which have disrupted production at several reactors in June and July. The Gravelines plant, located near Dunkirk, is a critical part of France's energy infrastructure.

Jellyfish have previously caused similar issues at nuclear facilities globally. In 2013, Sweden experienced reactor shutdowns due to jellyfish, and Japan faced a similar situation in 1999. Experts attribute the increasing jellyfish populations to factors such as overfishing, plastic pollution, and rising ocean temperatures, which create favorable conditions for their proliferation.