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French seafood in season in August:what arrives at auction, what becomes scarce

August at French auctions: sardine, albacore, bluefin tuna at their peak, spiny lobster, brown crab, mussels. Langoustine doubles in price. Substitutes, prices.

Updated 4 min readLiveCriée editorial team

August: Sardine, Albacore, Atlantic bluefin tuna, Pollack, Red gurnard, European spiny lobsterJFMAMJJASONDIN SEASONAugustSardineAlbacoreAtlantic bluefin tunaPollackRed gurnardEuropean spiny lobster
Contents
  1. What arrives at auction in August?
  2. What becomes scarce?
  3. Which substitutes for the menu?
  4. Points to watch on prices
  5. Frequently asked questions

In August, sardine, albacore and Atlantic bluefin tuna are at their peak, pollack, red gurnard, European spiny lobster (langouste rouge), brown crab and bouchot mussels in full season; langoustine slows down and its price doubles compared with spring, oysters remain milky, and sea bass, octopus and common prawn reach their highest prices. It is the last month of the summer menu, and the time to prepare for the autumn season.

Status as of 13 October 2026, based on the monthly sales of all French fish auctions in 2023 and 2024 (FranceAgriMer). The full calendar covers 40 species over twelve months.

What arrives at auction in August?

SpeciesWhat auction sales showWhat to know when buying
SardinePeak of the year: nearly 1,900 tonnes in August 2024Under €1/kg at auction
AlbacorePeak of the year: about 700 tonnes in August 2024Around €3/kg
Atlantic bluefin tunaFull season, about 115 tonnesAround €12 to €13/kg
PollackFull season, about 100 tonnesAround €11/kg
Red gurnardStart of its full season, from August to OctoberCheap species, useful for soups and dishes of the day
European spiny lobsterFull season, about 32 tonnesAround €35/kg
Brown crabFull season, about 50 tonnesAround €7/kg
Bouchot musselIn seasonFor the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel PDO, season generally from July to February
Wild gilthead sea breamVolumes rise towards the autumn peakStill expensive, around €17/kg

National rhythm of auction sales (FranceAgriMer, 2024); it varies from one port to another.

What becomes scarce?

  • Langoustine slows down: about 160 tonnes in August 2024 against 425 in May, and an average price around €19/kg, almost double the spring price. On the South Brittany grounds, an old study records a second moulting period in August, after the spring one; and a freshly moulted langoustine has a soft shell and less flesh.
  • European lobster falls (about 27 tonnes) and its price rises again, around €27/kg.
  • Oysters remain milky at the end of summer; triploids, which produce very few gametes, are hardly milky.
  • Octopus is at its lowest in volume and its highest in price, around €10/kg.
  • Common prawn is almost absent, at its highest price (around €35/kg in August 2024).
  • Whelk goes from about €2.20 to €4/kg between July and August 2024.
  • Spider crab declines towards its September low.
  • King scallop is closed until 30 September; warty venus clam and herring are absent.

Which substitutes for the menu?

A few ideas, to adapt to your menu and the day's catch.

  • If you had on the menuLangoustineIn August, think ofBrown crab, bouchot musselsWhy : Langoustine expensive and moulting; brown crab and mussels in full season
  • If you had on the menuWild sea bassIn August, think ofLine-caught pollack, meagreWhy : Sea bass around €22/kg at auction
  • If you had on the menuAtlantic bluefin tunaIn August, think ofAlbacoreWhy : Albacore at its peak, about four times cheaper
  • If you had on the menuOystersIn August, think ofBouchot musselsWhy : Milky oysters

Points to watch on prices

  1. Langoustine changes price. From €10/kg in June to €19 in August 2024, and around €20 until November. If it stays on the menu, cost it again now, and check the condition of the tails on receipt.
  2. Albacore and sardine, the buys of the month. At the peak of their landings, they allow summer dishes at a low food cost.
  3. 15 August. The public holiday falls in the peak tourist season: ask your suppliers about days without an auction around 15 August, and bring your orders forward accordingly.
  4. Preparing for the autumn season. Wild gilthead sea bream, around €17/kg in August 2024, falls back to €11 in September and €9 in October when its peak arrives. King scallop reopens in October. Better to wait for September to build the autumn dishes.

The deliveries guide recalls the checks on receipt in hot weather, and the food cost guide how to pass an increase on to the recipe costing sheet.

Frequently asked questions

Which fish is in season in August?

Sardine, albacore, Atlantic bluefin tuna, pollack and red gurnard on the fish side; European spiny lobster and brown crab on the crustacean side; bouchot mussels on the shellfish side.

Why is langoustine more expensive in August?

Because its landings have fallen sharply since spring: in 2024, they were more than halved between May and August, and its average auction price almost doubled. An old study on the South Brittany grounds also records a second moulting period in August, which can affect quality.

When can you find fresh albacore?

From July to October, with a peak in August. There is almost none at auction from November to May.

Are oysters good in August?

They are generally milky, because summer is their reproduction period. Triploids, which produce very few gametes, are hardly milky. The milky period generally ends at the end of summer or in autumn, depending on the growing area and the weather.

Sources

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