Accessibility
Theme:
Text:
Share :

Aquaculture in Lazaret bay

La Baie du Lazaret

Located between Saint-Mandrier and La Seyne-sur-Mer, La Baie du Lazaret is the perfect place to find authentic fishing huts (mostly on stilts) and mussel enclosures, which make it so special and charming.
The sea cultures that are concentrated here have been focusing for several years on quality products with a minimal environmental impact in compliance with the "Contrat de baie de la rade de Toulon" which ensures water quality, encourages organic production and tourism enhancement.
In addition to the gastronomic aspect, aquaculture brings life to the bay: at first light, fishing boats sail from net to net and offer us sceneries like postcards.
Two fields of activities coexist in the bay: fish farming and mussel and shellfish farming.
Fishermen's hut

Mussel and shellfish aquaculture

The appearance of mussel and shellfish farming in Lazaret Bay began at the end of the 19th century. In the past, production was much more important than today and reached 1400 tonnes in the 1960s, up from only about 100 tonnes today.
The decline in this production represents a major benefit for the respect of the environment but also for ensuring that the product is marketed in short circuits.
Tamaris cultivates mainly mussels and more sparingly oysters and shellfish.

The red mussel of Tamaris

Once overfished by the elders, Tamaris' red mussel had disappeared and has now been reintroduced. This variety of mussel is exclusively cultivated in the Bay of Lazaret by 3 three farmers.
It is a rare product, of great delicacy, which can be enjoyed raw, with an iodine flavour and a sweet bitterness very similar to the urchin's.
View on the mussel farms

Fish culture

It was only in the 1980s that fish farming activity appeared on fish farms, and breeding was particularly active in the Bay of Lazaret, mainly with wolves and sea bream.
For the past ten years, an aquaculture cooperative has been bringing together the nine fish farms in the bay. Beyond their desire to promote quality rather than quantity to ensure the future of their farms, the artisans of Lazaret Bay are observing a "reef effect" with many wild species coming to establish themselves around their farms. The wolffish and seabream of Tamaris are highly appreciated by the natives for their strong and iodized flesh.
Aquaculture in Lazaret bay
Mussel enclosures and fish farms are not open to visitors. However, you have the possibility to approach it and admire the panorama of the bay of Lazaret, its fishermen's huts and the Tamaris coastline by taking a boat-bus ticket with the "Réseau Mistral" 18M line: Les Sablettes > Toulon.
Tickets are available in the Tourism Office reception points (10 trips for 10€)

Réseau Mistral website

You can also explore the Sablettes pier (near the Circus tent) to discover the production of the bay's craftspeople and taste their excellent seafood products.