Interface between French Shellfish Industry and Research

Historically, research involvement in shellfish industry appeared as soon as the 19th century with studies on oyster sanitary quality and nutritive values. Those aspects were developed to satisfy consumer's demand and public health issues. Later on, rearing technologies were developed to ensure optimization of the characteristics of shellfish population dynamic such as recruitment, growth, and mortality. In a third step, management of leasing grounds allocation required studies on ecosystems' functioning. It integrated over space and time relationships between environment (as a trophic resource) and shellfish production. Presently, new challenges regarding environmental protection and consumer's satisfaction have involved studies on optimized uses of environment (impact of shellfish culture), space (conflict resolution with other users), and shellfish products (quality certifications). In France, the main part of those research studies have been carried out by public institutions. Three kinds of actions could be specified: a role of providing advice and expertise to facilitate decision-making by state managers to manage shellfish industry (space allocation, seawater quality and zoosanitary issues, monitoring networks, public service); a role of applied research to facilitate industry development (through RFP proposals); and eventually a role of prospective research to develop innovative approaches (fundamental research). Mutual perceptions of both research and shellfish actors are determined by their position in a complex social, jurisdictional. and economic web. Through its strong involvement in management and regulations of space allocation, French state government has facilitated the major part of the research dedicated to shellfish industry expansion. The present needs for quality (products and environment) have prompted the shellfish farmers to take over their development through their own financial capacities. Perspectives could be found in increasing awareness concomitant to a decrease in public influence with regards to regulations of conflict uses on coastal zone (Integrated Coastal Zone Management). Several examples will be provided to illustrate lessons from the past, explain the present situation, and the likely further trends in research-shellfish industry interface.