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is the moment when the larvae attach themselves on natural fibre ropes (coco) installed at sea in March-April. In July, these ropes furnished with young mussels (spat) are cut in 2,5 metres sections and rolled up around the poles. |
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When the mussel spawn is developed, it recovers the whole pole like a thick "socket". The exterior part of the spawn will grow faster than the part near the pole.
When the poles are weighed down with mussels, we harvest this spat to avoid that the sea blow off some mussels. Then, we do the operation that consists to place the young mussels in a net with a tube form. This flange is rolled up around the pole. The mussels go out the net and fix up at the pole. The stronger mussels will develop at the exterior of the poles. We have to operate several times this operation since the development of all the individuals. |
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In June, when mussels come to maturity, the farmers begin the harvesting at ebb tide. Our workboat is berthed at poles. We use an hydraulic arm than we thread on the pole and when we bring it up, the pole is liberated from the mussels. Then, the bouchot mussels are dropped on the deck. |
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This machine permits to grade and clean mussels. The small mussels and grits are eliminated through a grating thanks to a big volume of sea water. At the end of the line, the finishing is handmade. On the harbour arrival, the mussels are directly dropped off at carriers to be immediately sent to our clients. |
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This very tiring operation is handmade. A hole is made on the sand with a steel tube and we the take the pole down along this tube. When the pole is fitted, we take off the tube and the sand go back to its place keeping the pole in position.Storms eliminate naturally the old poles. Each winter, we replace the missing poles to maintain 100 poles by « bouchot » of 50 metres. The poles are made of black oak from French forests and, more recently, made of palm imported from Brazil. |
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