Theme 4: Marine biological resources/Fishing and aquaculture

For several years, significant death rates among Crassostrea gigas, the pacific oyster, have been regularly recorded along the French coast, particularly during the summer months. More recently, alarming numbers of seed or spat oysters have also been affected. Quiberon Bay, site of 81 oyster-farming businesses has been especially hit. Farmed on the seabed in deep water, the oysters are in contact with silt and sediment and are washed by waters that can often be cloudy, notably when there is a heavy swell. Industry professionals suspect that one of the reasons for the numbers of oysters dying is the influence of sediment on the ecosystem. This particular site is even more important given its role in supplying other oyster-farming areas. Any undermining of its productivity would therefore have repercussions throughout the industry.

The RISCO project will scientifically examine the conditions in which the oysters live along this stretch of coast. In particular, it will look at any possible toxicity in the sediment and the ability of the habitat to supply the food needed for the oyster to grow in order to understand why the oysters die and to provide the industry with the means to successfully manage farming operations.

The RISCO study will combine scientific, environmental and economic methods, providing an integrated and global approach to the research – studying sediment, analysing biological and physiological data and examining the biomass and farming practices – resulting in the design of modelling and risk management tools for the industry.

Led by the regional shellfish-farming agency for South Brittany (Section Régionale Conchylicole de Bretagne Sud) and the Ifremer lab at La Trinité-sur-Mer, the project is part of a drive towards the sustainable economic development of shellfish farming and coastal zones.

The 81 oyster-farming businesses in Quiberon Bay produce close to 15 000 tonnes, equivalent to almost 15% of France’s annual national production. In South Brittany, the industry represents 487 businesses employing 2600 people in 86% of the region’s permanent jobs.

RISCO project partners

Companies

• Comité Régional Conchylicole de Bretagne Sud, project director, Auray – Regional shellfish farming agency

• AGC du Morbihan, CER – Nautil, Vannes – Industry consultants and enterprise agency

Research centres

• Ifremer, Laboratoire Environnement Ressource (Environment and Resources Lab), La Trinité sur Mer

• University of Bretagne Sud, Laboratoire en sciences et technologies de l'information, de la communication et de la connaissance (Science and Technology of Information, Communication and Knowledge Lab), Vannes

• University of Nantes/ LEMNA EA 2164, Pôle Mer et Littoral (PML – Sea and coast research and development centre)

Contacts

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