Who are these young people attending the Lycée de la Mer with the ultimate goal of becoming oyster producers ?

Ces lycéens en bac pro cultures marines souhaitent s’orienter vers la conchyliculture après l’obtention de leur diplôme. Midi Libre – W. N.

Several initial and continuing training courses provided by the school allow you to obtain the professional capacity to set up your own business.

They have just celebrated their majority, but that does not prevent them from thinking big for their professional future. And from having ambitious projects to say the least. Antoine, Lorenzo and Marius, enrolled at the Lycée de la Mer Paul-Bouquet in Sète, in their final year of high school, with a professional baccalaureate in marine cultures, plan, once they have their diplomas in hand, to take over a shellfish farming business around the Thau lagoon.

An idea reinforced during an internship during their first year in Portugal, at Lorenzo's uncle's shellfish farm. “This allowed us to see different techniques, especially with the Atlantic tides”, the latter also indicates. “We're also going to look at producing elsewhere in the world, like in South Carolina, to see where there are possible deposits”, adds Antoine, who is passionate about oysters – he will also be a judge at the next agricultural competition.

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All of them admit to having “grown up with it”, understand with the pond, the oysters or, more broadly, the world of fishing. The health crises that pond professionals may experience do not seem to dampen their desires. “At worst, if it has to happen, it will happen”,says one of them, aware of the high mortality rates that can sometimes affect oysters. What attracts them to this profession is the environment – ​​“we work in nature” –, the “conviviality” in the farms, the connection with customers or even “the freedom to be your own boss”.

Varied projects

In the classroom, among the 13 other students, there are a total of seven who want to continue in the shellfish farming field. Like Théo, who initially wants to work as an employee: “The first few years are complicated.” Clément, for his part, could, after two internships in a company in the Thau basin, be hired after having, all the same, passed a BTS in aquaculture.

Also read: “We can't leave anyone on the side of the road”: how the Mediterranean regional committee supports shellfish farming installations

To become a shellfish farm manager, it is indeed necessary to have the professional capacity, provided by several training courses such as the professional baccalaureate in marine cultures and the BTS in aquaculture. In continuing education, the Lycée de la Mer Paul-Bousquet also offers additional training in marine cultures and a professional qualification certificate (CQP) for shellfish farm manager. Unique in France and created in 2022, this training is aimed at people wishing to set up, without any academic prerequisites (unlike additional training) but with at least three years of experience.

Management and biology courses, etc.

At the end of January, a new class of six adults started the school year with the aim of taking over a farm, often a family farm. “We want to have the diploma but also have knowledge about business management, to do the paperwork, to know about the aids… because we have the practice”, underlines Estelle who currently works in her parents' company, in Bouzigues. For a month, the students, including two from the Arcachon basin, will benefit from course modules on regulations, management, administration, health and biology. Before passing the diploma and taking over from their parents and becoming part of this new generation of shellfish farmers from the Thau lagoon.

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