Their slogan: “Let’s save Arcachon oyster farming.
» Since 6 a.m. this Monday morning, around 80 oyster farmers from the Arcachon basin have started a filter barrier operation in both directions on the A660, reports France Bleu Gironde.
They are mobilizing to raise awareness about their situation after the contaminated oyster affair.
Oysters from the basin remained prohibited for consumption and sale for more than 20 days, from December 27 to January 19, due to norovirus contamination, after poisonings.
This temporary ban, right during the end-of-year holidays, had serious consequences on the sector.
The latter estimated the turnover lost during this period at 7 million euros, including 5 million euros of shortfall in terms of gross margin.
Also read: Contaminated oysters: Arcachon oyster farmers will benefit from “tax relief”
Despite the resumption of sales, “there is still mistrust”, observes Mathieu Garrigue, oyster farmer in La Teste, speaking to France Bleu Gironde.
Oyster farmers are mobilizing this Monday not only to ask the State for help but also to reassure consumers.
In particular, they set up tasting stands to let motorists, who were forced to bypass their filter barrier, taste their oysters.
“Sales in free fall”
“We strive to offer a product of impeccable quality (…).
Our turnover is reduced and sales are in free fall.
Luckily, many customers support us, but that won't be enough.
For some of us, it is the impossibility of paying ourselves a salary, paying our employees, our contributions and repaying our loans,” they wrote in a leaflet that they distributed to motorists, relays Sud Ouest .
VIDEO.
Ban on the sale of oysters: “A sledgehammer” for this oyster farmer from the Arcachon basin
The Renaissance deputy for the Arcachon basin Sophie Panonacle visited the site, the regional daily also reports.
In a press release, she ensures that she “sent two letters to Bruno Le Maire, Minister of the Economy, and to Christophe Béchu, Minister of Ecological Transition, to alert them to the compensation expected by oyster farmers and to the subsidies for financing the sanitation works of the Intercommunal Syndicate of the Arcachon Basin (Siba).
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Oyster farmers in the Arcachon basin will benefit from tax relief from the State while awaiting a request for compensation from the European Union, the Gironde prefecture announced in early January.
The courts opened an investigation on January 12, notably for “ecocide”, after receiving complaints in the contaminated oysters affair.