| The first national census concerning shellfish culture in France was carried out in 2002. The main purpose was to provide accurate and comprehensive information on the number and structure of the companies using an in depth review of production factors (leases, plants, equipment's, labour and qualifications), and a survey of cultural practices up to the market level. Moreover, the census aimed to quantify the bivalve sales dedicated to consumption and to measure the livestock transfers among rearing shellfish production areas at different developmental stages: spat, intermediate products and fully grown marketable products. The French oyster production reached 109 000 metric tons in 2001. The main production was observed in Poitou-Charentes region... |
