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Caption: Green: rocky foreshore - Purple: silty foreshore - Orange: sandy foreshore - Red symbol: fish lock / "écluse" - Red: forbidden area.
These advices don't undertake the liabilty of the association.
Ministry of the sea map showing local shellfish collecting rules -
*Definition:
Ecluse: A manmade wall usually built on a reef to trap fish at the lowering tide. A traditional way of fishing dating from Middle Ages.
For more information click on the pictures below to access the free Wikipedia encyclopedia website
Banded wedge shell
Minimum size: 2,5 cm
Maximum quantity : From january 1st 2018, 2 kg each shellfisher and tidal are authorized.
Shellfish tip: Scrape the sand at the low tide mark as the sea descends. Be aware that decent sized examples of these shellfish are not found in great quantities these days due to previous overfishing. Don't forget to leave the shells to disgorge in sea water for a few hours before eating them, to get rid of any sand.
Scientific name: Donax Vittatus
Vernacular French name: Donace / Telline / Luisette
Prohibited burrowing shells gathering area : Gathering Carpet shell, Cockle, Razor shell and Banded wedge shell is prohibited beyond the western mouth of the River Seudre, in the southern part of the Coureau d'Oléron, so as beyond the northerly coast of the Chevanceaux headland in the Ré island.
Common cockle
Minimum size: 2,7 cm
Maximum quantity : From january 1st 2018, 2 kg each shellfisher and tidal are authorized.
Shellfish tip: The Common cockle lives in sandy or silty-sandy areas. To catch it, look for two little holes close together on the surface of the mud (these allow two siphons to oxygenate the shell during low tide). Don't forget to leave the shells to disgorge in sea water for a few hours before eating them, to get rid of any sand or silt.
Scientific name: Cerastoderma edule
Vernacular French name: Coque / Sourdon
Prohibited burrowing shells gathering area ; Gathering Carpet shell, Cockle, Razor shell and Banded wedge shell is prohibited beyond the western mouth of the River Seudre, in the southern part of the Coureau d'Oléron, so as beyond the northerly coast of the Chevanceaux headland in the Ré island.
European Carpet shell
Minimum size: 4 cm
Maximum quantity : From january 1st 2018, 200 pieces each shellfisher and tidal are authorized.
Shellfish tip: The Carpet shell lives in sandy or silty-sandy areas. To catch it, look for two little holes close together on the surface of the mud (these allow two siphons to oxygenate the shell during low tide). Don't forget to leave the shells to disgorge in sea water for a few hours before eating them, to get rid of any sand or silt. The European carpet shell is quite wide-spread unlike the Japanese Carpet shell which has to be bred here. The Japanese Carpet shell is an introduced species which tends to take over at the expense of the native European species. The hinge of the European Carpet shell is not as prominent as the Japanese one. The inner valves of the European Carpet shell are not purple spotted.
Scientific name: Ruditapes deccussatus
Vernacular French name: Palourde européenne
Prohibited burrowing shells gathering area : Gathering Carpet shell, Cockle, Razor shell and Banded wedge shell is prohibited beyond the western mouth of the River Seudre, in the southern part of the Coureau d'Oléron, so as beyond the northerly coast of the Chevanceaux headland in the Ré island.
Japanese Carpet shell
Minimum size: 3,5 cm
Maximum quantity : From january 1st 2018, 200 pieces each shellfisher and tidal are authorized.
Shellfishy tip: The Japanese carpet shell lives in sandy or silty-sandy areas. To catch it, look for two little holes close together on the surface of mud (these allow two siphons to oxygenate the shell during low tide). Don't forget to leave the shells to disgorge in sea water for a few hours before eating them, to get rid of any sand or silt. The Japanese carpet shell has to be bred here, unlike the European carpet shell which is quite wide-spread. The Japanese carpet shell is an introduced species which tends to take over at the expense of the native European species. The hinge of the Japanese carpet shell is quite prominent unlike the European one. The inner valves of the Japanese carpet shell are purple spotted.
Scientific name: Ruditapes philippinarum
Vernacular French name: Palourde japonaise
Prohibited burrowing shells gathering area : Gathering Carpet shell, Cockle, Razor shell and Banded wedge shell is prohibited beyond the western mouth of the River Seudre, in the southern part of the Coureau d'Oléron, so as beyond the northerly coast of the Chevanceaux headland in the Ré island.
Razor shell
Minimum size: 10 cm
Shellfish tip: The Razor shell digs 2 little holes side by side, which looks like a number 8 on the surface. By putting salt into these holes, the Razor shell feels in a wrong way that the tide is coming back up, so it resurfaces making it easier to catch. Razor shells are caught during the biggest tides.
Scientific name: Ensis / Solen marginatus, Ensis siliqua, Pharus legumen
Vernacular French name: Couteau / Coutelet
Prohibited burrowing shells gathering area : Gathering Carpet shell, Cockle, Razor shell and Banded wedge shell is prohibited beyond the western mouth of the River Seudre, in the southern part of the Coureau d'Oléron, so as beyond the northerly coast of the Chevanceaux headland in the Ré island.
Venus shell
Minimum size: 4,30 cm
Maximum quantity : From january 1st 2018, 3 kg each shellfisher and tidal are authorized.
Shellfish tip: It can be caught in large grained sand.
Scientific name: Venus verrucosa
Vernacular French name: Praire
Sand gaper
Minimum size: No regulatory minimum size
Shellfish tip: Found during the biggest low tides. The Sand gaper tends to live deep in the sand.
Scientific name: Mya arenaria
Vernacular French name: Mye des sables / Bec de jar