The oyster industry of the Charente

In a nutshell: France is the 4th biggest oyster producing country (China is first with 70% of the world production).  And this region produces 50% of France's production, with 60% of the production being consumed locally in the region.  That equals finding oysters on all the menus, being able to purchase it from the colourful cabins dotting the island, numerous fish markets selling oysters, whether just like that or as a take-away platter with the numerous other types of seafood they are blessed with in this region.  We've stopped at St Trojan again the one day, our visit resulting in JL buying some oysters as a snack.

The colourful cabins lining the port of St Trojan

Below: the stage for the evening music concert already being prepared, next to some oyster boats

JL buying his oysters from a stand along the road - 6 oysters and a glass of wine for only €5 (ca. R50).  I though they were original with their tray...

You can see the oysters in the bags on top of the boat

Not only the oyster cabins are colourful...

We've decided to educate ourselves and left to mainland France to visit the Marennes.  About 6 years ago a very successful project combining aquaculture and tourism was opened.  You can visit a museum, one of many restaurants, oyster growers selling oysters, or go on a boat trip (like we did) to have a look at the reserve.

The oysters growing in the park. It was low tide, during high tide they are covered by the water when they eat plankton and filter the water (although the water is in a good condition in this region, there are numerous blue flag beaches).



Oyster farming already commenced in the 1800's with the foresight of Napoleon.  He ordered that the oysters can only be harvested a certain time of year, to protect them during the time of reproduction. This lead to the start of the oyster farms.  Despite this protection, the region was hit by a disease in the 1920's, resulting in Portuguese oysters having to be  introduced into the region to replace the region's oysters.  Then another disease by 1970 led to the successful introduction of Japanese oysters.
Today, you have more than 5000 ha of oyster farms in the area (and employing even more people than hectares).  The area around the Marennes and île d'Oléron is a park where people are not allowed to take out oysters, except if you are a registered oyster grower. 
Oysters change sex during their 3 year period before ready to be harvested - in order to reproduce.