Fish and seafood
On the île d'Oléron, fish and seafood are synonymous with the port of La Cotinière, the biggest fishing port in Charente-Maritime. Here you’ll find a wide variety of the most sought-after fish species and top-quality seafood including wedge sole, sole, scampi, turbot and sea bass.
La Cotinière, Charente-Maritime’s biggest fishing port
With its fishing fleet of around one hundred boats and the 250 to 300 fishermen who work on them, the port of La Cotinière has retained the feel of a traditional working port, whilst moving with the times. Amongst other measures, it has introduced a digital fish auction and a boat hoist. The processing of whatever is caught is done on the boats themselves, with the seafood and fish being placed in boxes and ice added to keep the products as fresh as possible. Relatively short fishing trips help ensure the products are fresher and of better quality.
Did you know that the port of La Cotinière is the biggest traditional working fishing port in Charente-Maritime and Nouvelle Aquitaine? It’s the 7th largest fishing port in France. A total of 4,290 tonnes of fish are landed and sold at auction here, generating sales of 26 million euros.
Although La Cotinière specialized in sardine fishing for many years, nowadays it’s known for the diversity of its catch. There are over 90 species of seafood for sale here, most of them high-value products like sea bass, scampi, sole and wedge sole. In fact, La Cotinière is France’s number one port for wedge sole landings.
Towards a sustainable approach to fishing
From hook to the consumer’s plate, very specific measures are taken at the port of La Cotinière to guarantee product quality, most notably through the use of quality labels attached to fish. These labels guarantee the quality and origin of the products on sale.
For years, the fishermen of La Cotinière have played an active role in the more environmentally-friendly management of fishing stocks by using selective fishing gear enabling smaller fish and scampi to escape their nets. The scampi fishermen of La Cotinière have received an award from an international NGO – the first time such an award has been received by small-scale fishers in recognition of their contribution to sustainable, responsible fishing. Furthermore, they are extremely careful to comply with the fishing quotas they are allocated. Every day, the fishing boats bring back items of rubbish that they find at sea, thus cleaning both the ocean and our beaches.
Visits to the fish auction
In order to meet the health requirements of the veterinary services and to guarantee the food quality of seafood products, access to the landing quay and the fish auction is only possible during guided tours . To discover the secrets of the port of La Cotinière, guided tours are organized every school vacation period. You'll be able to find out how the port works, and enjoy the spectacle of the fish auction. Reservations essential at tourist offices.
These tours, which provide a better understanding of the workings of the port and the fish auction, are offered during school vacations and on the first Friday of each month. In July and August, various events are organized at the port.
And don't forget that every day from 4 p.m. onwards, at the"Marché de la Victorine", the fishmongers are waiting to sell you the fish of the day, of course!