Four Reactors Shut at France Gravelines Nuclear Plant Over Jellyfish Swarm

France's Gravelines nuclear power plant, Western Europe's largest with six reactors each producing 900 megawatts, was temporarily shut down after a massive swarm of jellyfish clogged the cooling water filter drums, causing automatic shutdowns of four reactors. The plant, which draws cooling water from a canal connected to the North Sea, had its other two reactors already offline for maintenance, resulting in a full temporary halt of production. EDF assured that the shutdowns posed no safety risks to the plant, personnel, or the environment. Marine biologists link the increasing frequency of jellyfish blooms to warming seas and invasive species like the Asian Moon jellyfish, which thrives in plankton-rich waters and has caused similar disruptions globally. This incident highlights an unexpected challenge for coastal infrastructure amid climate change, as rising water temperatures expand jellyfish reproductive periods. EDF is currently conducting diagnostics to safely restart the reactors.