1 ha = 2,47 acres

Social & Economical characteristics

The business activities of the Marennes-Oleron basin is run essentially by the breeding, the farming, and the expedition of the Oysters. Some farms may specialize either in collecting, in half-farming, in farming, or in refining. Those who sell directly their oysters are no more called farmers but expeditors. Then, they must obtain a sanitary agreement.

July 1^st 1997, according to the maritime business office of Marennes, there were 1577 license holder. Among them there were 818 farmers and 759 expeditors.

118 have their head office not in the area of the Basin. They farm in the Marennes-Oleron park essentially for mussels and oysters collecting.

July 1^st 2000, remain 746 farmers and 722 expeditors.

Then, the number of concessionaires decrease year after year. 1619 license holder in 1996, 1577 in 1997, 1468 in 2000. The maritime business office has noticed the constant decrease.

On the private domain, the farmed surface is around 3000 ha for the refining. Officially, 1813 ha are registered.

Regarding men, depending on embarking and landing, during the year 1996 the Maritime Business office registered 600 employees. They all contribute to the special public agriculture allowances (MSA).

• 995 employees contribute as full time worker in 1996, 1275 in 1997.
• 1275 as part time worker in 1996, and 3392 in 1997.

The official retirement age is 55. The number of concessionaire more than 55 decrease year after year : 580 in 1996, 277 in 1997.

The farmer average age is between 45 and 55.

All these data come from Public Committee connected to the Shellfish culture and Maritime business Office issued on July 1996 and July 97.

Production & Stock

None of the official statistical books give the definite information on trade and production. The basin of Marennes-Oleron would produce around 35000 tons of Oysters, and 30000 tons for refining but the breeding was made in an other oyster farms. The full stock was estimated in 1993 at 93000 tons. (IFREMER).