Eau et rivières de Bretagne is the second most important environmental organisation in Brittany, the first being the SEPNB now called Bretagne Vivante. It was created in November 1969 by anglers and environmentalists under the name APPSB which it kept until 1983. Since the beginning it has been linked to French organisations like the Association Nationale pour la Protection des Eaux et Rivières and the Association Nationale de Défense des Rivières à Saumon, while remaining completely independent. The first leaders were Pierre Phélipot and above all Jean-Claude Pierre, who remained president of the association until 1985 and was general secretary afterwards for another 15 years. The association incorporated up to 2000 members and 83 local groups. Since the beginning, the association has been active on many issues and in many ways, which could be organised around three themes: informing, doing and defending.Informing: notably through the publication of its magazine: Saumons et truites (1971–1977), Eau et rivières ; and the establishment of a River Centre in Belle-Isle-en-Terre. Doing: its main action since the beginning has been the organisation of huge river cleaning sites, which can bring together up to 1000 people, etc. Defending: the association has increasingly put the emphasis on expertise and on lobbying, and notably on suing polluters, etc.