Oyster bags on Utah Beach

Oyster production is a major industry in Normandy.

Oysters cannot spawn in Normandy; the climate is too harsh, so small seed (i e baby) oysters are brought up from the Atlantic coast - mainly from Arcachon - to grow here.

Commercially farmed oysters spend part of their day under water and part above the water; this develops strong muscle and an improved taste. The gently sloping beaches here at Utah Beach enable many thousands of oysters to mature in bags tied to racks.

The high water level is clear from the black colouring on the tall poles in the middle distance; these poles are presumably intended to warn off fishing vessels. One row of oyster racks is out of the water, another is just emerging.


If I actually liked oysters I would probably have gone into more technical detail. The good news however is that mussels - plenty of yellow mussels - are also farmed on these beaches.