In the Thau basin, oyster producers “generally satisfied” with the end-of-year celebrations

Les conchyliculteurs du bassin de Thau vendent 70 % de leur production pendant les fêtes. Midi Libre – EVA TISSOT

Selon le directeur du CRCM, les résultats ont été "plutôt positifs" pour les conchyliculteurs avec des chiffres d’affaires compris entre -30 % et +10 % par rapport à l’année dernière.

The end-of-year holidays are a particularly crucial time for oyster producers around the Thau basin. This year, the result is “rather positive”, indicates Fabrice Grillon, director of the Regional Center for Shellfish Farming in the Mediterranean (CRCM). He adds: “For the moment, we have very empirical feedback. Compared to last year, producers have achieved between -30% and +10% of their turnover. It is very heterogeneous since there are cases that have lost, others that have stabilized and some that have compensated a little. But overall, producers are satisfied.”

No health crisis, relief

A satisfaction to which is added the absence, during this period, of a health crisis as was the case two years ago. As a reminder, the ban on the marketing of oysters in December 2022, following the detection of norovirus, responsible for gastroenteritis epidemics, had been a real blow to the shellfish farmers in the territory.

“It was something that concerned us a lot. It tarnished the image of the product, something that we are still struggling to recover from two years later”, assures Fabrice Grillon. Who also welcomes the control systems put in place by the State services around the oyster parks to prevent thefts, also widespread during this period: “This has been very dissuasive and very few cases of theft have been reported to us”.

High mortality rates on oysters

This does not prevent the director of the CRCM from recalling the difficulties faced by the profession. In particular, linked to the high mortality rates of commercial oysters caused by the presence of the vibrio bacteria. “We conducted a survey last November and 60% of professionals told us that they had observed more than 50% mortality on their oysters. This therefore led to difficulties for some in having volumes and stocks. They could then find themselves with nothing to sell” , he indicates.

At the same time, 80% of shellfish farmers admit to having noticed, since the summer, growth delays in their shellfish, which can be explained in particular by a depletion of nutrients in the pond. “Today, the profession must therefore increase its production costs, but the national price is falling, says Fabrice Grillon. It is therefore very complex for us”.

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