Fish and seafood
La Cotinière, Charente-Maritime's leading fishing port
With its flotilla of around 100 boats and 250 to 300 fishermen, the port of La Cotinière has retained its traditional character while modernizing its facilities, including a computerized fish auction and a boat elevator. Seafood processing operations are carried out directly on board the ships, with packaging in on-board tanks, glazing for optimum preservation of the fish, and unloading through short tides, a guarantee of product quality and freshness.
Did you know?The port of La Cotinière is the leading artisanal fishing port in Charente-Maritime and the Nouvelle Aquitaine region. It is the 7th largest port in France. The tonnage landed and sold at auction is 4290 tonnes, with sales of 26 million euros.
Although for many years La Cotinière specialized in sardine fishing, today the diversity of production is one of the major characteristics of the port of La Cotinière. More than 90 species are available for sale, most of them high value-added products such as sea bass, langoustine, sole and ceteau, making La Cotinière the leading port for ceteau landings in France.
For responsible fishing
From the hook to the consumer's plate, the port of La Cotinière is committed to quality, in particular through the pins affixed to the fish. This information attests to the quality and origin of the products presented.
For many years, the fishermen of La Cotinière have played an active part in the environmental management of the fisheries, using selective fishing gear that allows small fish and langoustines to escape. The Cotinière langoustine fishermen received an award from an international NGO for the first time, recognizing artisanal fishermen who contribute to sustainable and responsible fishing. What's more, their fishing quotas are scrupulously respected. Every day, the fishermen bring back the waste they find at sea, thus preserving our environment and our beaches.
Visits to the fish auction
In order to meet the health requirements of the veterinary services and to guarantee the food quality of seafood products, access to the landing quay and the fish auction is only possible during guided tours . To discover the secrets of the port of La Cotinière, guided tours are organized every school vacation period. You'll be able to find out how the port works, and enjoy the spectacle of the fish auction. Reservations essential at tourist offices.
These tours, which provide a better understanding of the workings of the port and the fish auction, are offered during school vacations and on the first Friday of each month. In July and August, various events are organized at the port.
And don't forget that every day from 4 p.m. onwards, at the"Marché de la Victorine", the fishmongers are waiting to sell you the fish of the day, of course!