French consumption of oysters and mussels analysed within the European market |
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| Authors: | Sophie Girard Catherine Mariojouls |
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| Institution: | 1. Service d'économie maritime , IFREMER , B.P. 70, Plouzane, 29280, France Phone: +33 (0)2 9822 4587 Fax: +33 (0)2 9822 4587 E-mail: girard@ifremer.fr;2. Institut National Agronomique Paris‐Grignon , Paris, France |
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| Abstract: | Abstract Shellfish farming is the most common and the longest established aquaculture activity in France and in the EU15. Unlike for most other aquatic species, the bulk of French supplies of mussels and oysters come from mariculture. France is the leading European producer of oysters and is almost self sufficient in oysters. The sustainable development of shellfish farming is analysed through a “market and consumer‐ oriented‐approach”, covering trading and marketing issues as well as consumer analysis. Comparisons between mussel and oyster markets highlights some key differences in terms of their distribution network, demand attributes, consumer profiles and regions. There are differences in identification of origin and quality labelling approaches. Producer organizations are becoming more involved in such matters but they do not have the same stake in the two sectors. A review of the current quality control schemes applied in marketing both farmed oysters and mussels completes the economic analysis of these French bivalve markets. |
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| Keywords: | shellfish bivalves seafood market consumer survey distribution channels quality/certification |
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