Huîtres Marennes-Oléron

Oysters matured or bred in the tidal oyster beds of the Bassin de Marennes Oléron, classified by filling power index into fines de claires, spéciales de claires, and spéciales pousse en claire grades. Maturing in these shallow brackish basins transforms the oyster's taste, shell quality, and, in certain beds, produces a green hue around the gills through natural pigmentation by the diatom Navicula ostrea.

About this designation

Huîtres Marennes Oléron is registered as a PGI under file number PGI-FR-0591, with EU protection granted on 15 May 2008, and is recorded in eAmbrosia under identifier EUGI00000013755. The protected name as registered is 'Huîtres Marennes Oléron'. The designation covers oysters matured or bred on oyster beds situated within the Bassin de Marennes Oléron, a defined area comprising twenty-seven communes across the right bank of the Seudre, the left bank of the Seudre, and the Île d'Oléron. Open sea oysters are explicitly excluded. Classification is determined by the filling power index, the ratio of drained flesh to total weight multiplied by 100: a value from 7 to 10.5 qualifies as a fine fattened oyster, a value at or above 10.5 as a special fattened oyster, and a value at or above 12 as a special oyster grown on an oyster bed. Maturing and breeding, packaging, and dispatch must all take place within the identified geographical area. Oysters must be packaged within 24 hours of being fished, packaged flat with the cupped valve on the bottom, and may not be transported loose or presented for sale outside their original packaging. Labelling must carry the geographical name 'Huîtres Marennes Oléron', the 'Huîtres Marennes Oléron' logo, and the PGI logo. The product is sold alive and is not processed.

Source: The register document this entry was written from · retrieved August 26, 2026

Distinctive facts

• Registered as a PGI on 15 May 2008 under file number PGI-FR-0591, eAmbrosia identifier EUGI00000013755.
• Classification into fine, spéciale, and pousse en claire grades is determined by the filling power index, with thresholds at 7, 10.5, and 12.
• The green hue around the gills results from natural pigmentation by the diatom Navicula ostrea present on certain oyster bed walls; it is not systematic.
• The specification permits no open sea oysters; maturing or breeding on oyster beds within the Bassin de Marennes Oléron is mandatory.

Tasting notes

Charente-Maritime oyster IGP from Marennes-Oléron basin, distinctive **green-tinged "Fine de Claire" and "Spéciale de Claire"** (from claires — finishing ponds — where Navicula ostrearia algae imparts characteristic blue-green color and sweet-mineral flavor). Plump meaty bivalve, balanced briny-sweet flavor with characteristic "noix de la Claire" finish; the iconic French oyster.

HoReCa use

Foundation of French oyster service — raw on ice with shallot mignonette and lemon; classic accompaniment to Champagne, Muscadet, or Sancerre; the standard French restaurant oyster.

Packaging

• crate-fresh-12-pieces
• crate-fresh-24-pieces
• crate-fresh-50-pieces
• crate-fresh-100-pieces
• grading: N°5/4/3/2/1

Seasonality