The Charente-Maritime oyster is doing well, thank you for it. Professionals in the oyster industry, on the other hand, are suffering. Not because of a virus or a bacteria, but because of the confusion instilled in the minds of consumers after the contamination of oysters from the Arcachon basin. To the point that few people agree to speak out, for fear of being associated once again with a problem that does not concern them. At least not directly. Because the collapse in prices, the loss of turnover – up to 60% in certain farms – or even the unsold stocks remaining in the marshes have done a lot of harm.
“We sell almost at a loss. We are on the verge of a massacre,” warns a professional from the Marennes-Oléron basin. “We have not yet managed to balance supply and demand,” explains Philippe Morandeau, president of the Regional Shellfish Farming Committee in Charente-Maritime. Those who only do production suffer the most, i.e. 130 farms out of the 670 in the department. Those who sell directly are less affected, such as in agriculture. All hope is not lost. »
“The confidence is there”
Philippe Morandeau, oyster farmer at Château-d'Oléron, draws on a national study (Ifop), revealing that, for 70% of French people, price is the first criterion that comes into play when purchasing seafood products. , well before quality. “The confidence is there, it’s a good sign,” said the president. It's stuck especially with mass distribution, which also sells a little less, which is reorganizing itself. For us, it's 70% of the market in December, 40% the rest of the year. »
With less than a month to go before the holidays, the highlight of the year, the Regional Committee assures us: oysters from Charente-Maritime will be there. Those of the Marennes-Oléron Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, but also those from other parks, from Marsilly to L'Éguille, via the island of Ré and Fouras, which represent nearly half of the 45,000 tonnes marketed each year in Charente-Maritime.
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