Mussels, queen of shells

Eight in ten French people consume mussels at least once a year, accompanied by fries, which makes this small shellfish the most purchased seafood product in France, ahead of oysters and salmon. At the great Braderie de Lille, 500 tonnes of mussels are sold in one weekend. However, this seafood has been in turmoil for a few years. In March 2014, Charente breeders lost nearly 10,000 tonnes. This mortality is thought to be due to particulate pollution linked to the work of the La Rochelle commercial port. Who controls what, and how? It's not easy to navigate the maze of administrations and associations in charge of the good health of coastal waters and their shellfish.