The southernmost scallop shell deposit in France is located between the departments of Vendée and Charente-Maritime, in Pertuis Breton. This fishery has been in difficulty since last year, with fewer and fewer shellfish caught.
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Departing from Aiguillon Bay, Cédric Lambert has been fishing for scallops for more than 20 years. But this season started very badly, he leaves worried.
I give myself 3-4 tides, if I can't find any, and we don't do better, I stop.
“I prefer to leave the boat at the dock, it won't cost me more than if I go to sea and eat money.”
The resource is becoming scarce, yet the activity is very supervised. “The opening of fishing is 10 a.m., we have two minutes left, we will be there in two minutes.”
They have two hours, not a minute more, to dredge the shells, over 18 days of activity for a month. When returning from the first dredge, “it’s bad,” deplores Cédric.
Scallop fishing in danger in Vendée
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© France 3 Pays de la Loire – Damien Raveleau
Few shells, the only comfort for the fisherman, it seems to be of quality.
In Pertuis-Breton, the tonnage landed almost halved last year. Among the hypotheses to explain this disappearance, global warming and the increase in predators such as starfish.
For Cédric, the shell represents 20% of his turnover, the stakes are high. That day, after 2 hours: “Okay, I'm telling you at least 200, maximum 210. We managed to save the furniture with difficulty, but it's still not great at all.”
On this deposit between Vendée and Charente-Maritime, the number of boats authorized to capture the precious shellfish decreased by a third last year.
Scallop fishing in danger in Vendée
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© France 3 Pays de la Loire
Cédric's crew unloads their catch a few kilometers away to be sold directly in his wife's fish market. And for her, orders are not decreasing.
“Last week, I had a lot of requests, and then even this week, the orders that I take, I take them subject to reservation. Provided that the fishing is sufficient, provided that they fish well in fact,” explains Marie-Luce Lambert.
If there is a shortage of scallops in the region, you will have to turn to the English Channel or the North Sea. For them, on the contrary, fishing volumes are increasing.
The report by Sophie Wahl, Damien Raveleau, Marie-Catherine Georgelin
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