Photo: © Lionel Flageul/PDM

Brittany: At the Crossroads of the Fishing Industry

FRANCE
Tuesday, September 10, 2024, 00:10 (GMT + 9)

Nearly half of all fresh fish landed in France comes from Brittany. This region not only leads in volume but also in the diversity of species, fishing methods, and companies, placing it at the center of the fishing industry's challenges—and potentially its solutions—according to Produits de la Mer.

With 1,200 fishing vessels and 4,300 sailors, Brittany represents 32% and 38% of the national workforce in these categories, respectively. The region also boasts 200 fish trading and processing companies, providing over 7,500 jobs. Out of France's 35 fish auctions, 13 are located in Brittany, including two of the top three in terms of market value, Le Guilvinec and Lorient. Brittany accounts for 44% of the volume and 42% of the value of all fresh catch landed in France, highlighting its pivotal role in the sector.

Brittany’s influence is not just historical; it is also structural and diverse. Unlike neighboring Normandy, most Breton fishermen are organized into producer organizations (POs). Les Pêcheurs de Bretagne (LPDB), the largest PO in France, and Cobrenord, have 619 and 197 member vessels, respectively. The Breizhmer association, established in 2019, brings together stakeholders from Breton fishing and aquaculture to promote local expertise and commitment. Its label covers all product categories and all stages of the supply chain.

Diversity is a defining feature of Breton fishing, whether in terms of gear, vessel size, or species. At LPDB, the top three species by volume are sardines, hake, and monkfish, while monkfish, hake, and langoustines lead in value. Cobrenord members focus primarily on shellfish (64%), particularly scallops from the Bay of Saint-Brieuc. Aquaculture—oysters, mussels, and trout—and a strong industrial network also contribute to the region's fishing landscape.

However, Brittany faces significant challenges. The region has been heavily impacted by issues such as Brexit, rising fuel prices, fleet reductions, wind power projects, fishing quotas, and the closure of the Bay of Biscay. "We have faced one or two crises per year, with no financial aid for the fish trade. Cash reserves are depleted," remarked a local professional. Concerns over volumes are also growing. Of the 90 boats scheduled for scrapping under the Brexit Individual Support Plan (PAI), 45 were from Brittany.

The port of Loctudy, the launch site for Breizh Up Pêche on May 31, was particularly hard-hit, losing 26 offshore vessels in 2023 alone. Since the 2000s, Loctudy has seen a reduction of three-quarters of its offshore fleet. Between 2022 and 2023, fish market volumes dropped by 23% in Lorient and Guilvinec, 26% in Douarnenez, and 19% in Concarneau.

Naoned trawler of the Keroman artisanal fishing fleet [l’Armement de la pêche artisanale de Keroman (Apak)]

Environmental challenges and decarbonization efforts further complicate the picture. Launched in 2022, the Hyba project aims to test low-carbon hybridization of the fleet under real conditions. The trawler Naoned, part of the Keroman artisanal fishing fleet (Apak), was chosen for its versatility. In July, 70 sensors were installed on the vessel to gather data for optimizing energy use. The project has a budget of 2.5 million euros, with 1.3 million allocated for future retrofitting. Currently, the only diesel-electric deep-sea trawler in Brittany is the Blue Wave, owned by Jean-Baptiste Goulard in Guilvinec.

The fleet size is a contentious issue among environmentalists and NGOs. The Brittany Ecologists in the regional council, for example, did not support the creation of Breizh Up Pêche. Similarly, the NGO Bloom criticizes what it calls "greenwashing" and alleges that public funds are being used to circumvent European regulations to finance non-artisanal bottom trawlers, which they refer to as "destroyers of the seabed." Loïg Chesnais-Girard, President of the Brittany Region, responded on June 28: "If you believe that any fishing vessel over 12 meters is an aberration, then there are 224 boats to dismantle in Brittany and 1,000 sailors to move back to an already crowded coastal area."

This strong mobilization by NGOs has had practical consequences. The Annelies Ilena, nicknamed "the ship from hell" by Bloom, will not inherit the blue whiting quotas from the aging trawler Joseph Roty, which has surpassed its operational lifespan of over 50 years. The argument against the Annelies Ilena includes its Polish flag and the fact that it cannot dock in Saint-Malo due to its massive size (144 meters), instead landing in Ijmuiden, the Netherlands—a significant setback for the Compagnie des Pêches de Saint-Malo.

Based on the story by Fanny Rousselin-Rousvoal Fanny/PDM

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