Le Bleu Marin

A boat that leaves the Bouzigues marina for the oyster tables of the Étang de Thau and docks at a production farm, where a shellfish farmer explains his work.

Who they are

Le Bleu Marin is the pleasure boat of a family of mussel and oyster producers in Bouzigues who, according to their website, have been in the trade for four generations. The skipper is also a shellfish farmer, and the family has its restaurant, Le Marin, a few metres from the boat. The website does not give the owners' names or the date the trips began. The boat leaves from the harbour quay, on Avenue Louis Tudesq, and the visit is presented as a complement to the Musée de l'Étang de Thau, the lagoon museum in the same village.

The boat is semi-covered and approved by Bureau Veritas. It carries a maximum of 65 people, split between the bow deck, a covered saloon of 30 seats and the stern deck, and is authorised by the French Ministry of Education for school outings of up to 60 pupils with five accompanying adults.

The trip

The outing lasts about an hour. From Bouzigues the boat heads towards the Gouffre de la Vise, opposite Balaruc-les-Bains, passes the Poissons du Soleil fish hatchery and the Roquérols lighthouse, opposite Sète, and reaches the area of oyster and mussel tables. There the skipper explains his work and shows the ropes with the different stages of growth, from oyster and mussel seed to shellfish ready for sale. On the way back you see the village of Bouzigues from the water.

Times and prices

Boarding is 15 minutes before departure, at the marina. In April, in October and until 12 November there is one daily sailing at 15:00. In May, June and September, three: at 11:00, 14:30 and 16:00. In July and August, four: at 11:00, 14:30, 16:00 and 17:30. From November to March it only sails for groups with a booking.

Adults pay €14 and children aged 3 to 16, €10. Groups of more than ten people have a reduced rate, and for family gatherings or private evenings a quote is requested.

Tasting, bookings and contact

For groups of up to 40 people the family organises informal tastings of Bouzigues mussels and oysters on board, by reservation only. You book by phone on +33 6 03 31 44 90 or with the contact form on the website; they also have a Facebook page. The website does not publish cancellation conditions or what happens in bad weather, nor does it say whether dogs are admitted or whether the boat is wheelchair accessible, so it is best to ask when you call. The website is in French only.