Oystering in Bordeaux (Arcachon Bay)
This is what this odyssey is all about
The warmer water of the Arcachon bay near Bordeaux and Cap Ferret means that the “cupped” oysters spawn prolifically so this area and the area a little north supply spat for the growers in the northern waters of Brittany. Here they put out stacks of what look like Spanish roof tiles coated with lime in their leased plots in the bay to attract the spat (pictures below).
Once the spat attach and reach sufficient size they are removed and placed into plastic mesh bags (picture below) and returned to the beds. The beds are fully uncovered at low tide so that is when you work the beds, bringing in growing oysters, resorting them into to larger mesh bags then returning them to your leased beds until they are ready to sell.
Our hosts for this visit were Mme Angélika Hermann and her husband Thierry. Passionate and fabulous hosts and farmers, Angélika was a language major in a prior life and Thiery was a musician teaching trombone. They decided to pursue a passion and farm oysters in one of the most beautiful places in the world. They are small operation, selling most of their catch at the local market in Toulouse.
Among the best oysters I’ve ever had!
Factoid: Oyster bed leases in this part of the world run for 35 years. Also, oysters from this area currently wholesale for about 3 euros/kg.
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- Map of the bay at low tide showing the beds
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- A very basic machine that sorts by weight
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- Stacks of slaked tiles to attract spat
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- Tiles with different size oysters adhering
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- 3 different size mesh bags for the oysters as they grow
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- Thierry showing us some of the bags of oysters being worked
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- All of us awaiting the tasting
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- Can’t have oysters without a crisp white wine
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- Proud of their brand as are all the artisan producers
Oyster Odyssey 