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

01

What arrives at auction in January?

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

02

What becomes scarce?

• Langoustine is at its winter low: about 55 tonnes in January 2024 against more than 400 in May, at an average price of around €13 to €14/kg.
• European lobster drops to a few tonnes a month at auction, at around €34/kg.
• Brown crab is scarce: only a few tonnes go through the auction hall.
• Wild gilthead sea bream is at its lowest; what price lists offer comes mostly from farming.
• Dover sole and hake from the Bay of Biscay become scarcer from the end of the month: from 2024 to 2026, vessels of 8 metres and over working with gillnets or trammel nets, pelagic or pair trawls, or pelagic seines stayed in port from 22 January to 20 February to protect dolphins.
• European spiny lobster (langouste rouge), albacore, Atlantic bluefin tuna and meagre are absent or almost absent from fish auctions.

03

Post-holiday prices: what the figures say

Rounded reading of the FranceAgriMer monthly curves, all French fish auctions. These are first-sale prices, before processing, transport and the fish merchant's margin.

04

Which substitutes for the menu?

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

05

Points to watch on prices

1. Reprice after the holidays. In 2024, monkfish, turbot, European lobster and langoustine sold at auction for clearly less in January than in December (table above). A recipe costing sheet built on holiday prices overestimates the food cost.
2. Prepare for the Bay of Biscay closure. From 2024 to 2026, it ran from 22 January to 20 February. For 2027, the closure lasts thirty consecutive days, chosen by each vessel owner between 15 January and 27 February 2027 and declared before 1 December 2026 (failing a declaration: from 22 January to 20 February 2027); French order of 9 September 2026. Less sole, hake and sea bass from the Bay of Biscay: plan another origin or another species for the dishes concerned.
3. Make the most of sea bass before February. This is its most plentiful and cheapest month. In 2026, commercial sea bass fishing was closed in February and March in the English Channel, North Sea and Celtic Sea (EU fishing opportunities regulation, revised every year).
4. Winter weather. January storms can empty fish auctions for several days in a row: keep a fallback species for each dish.

The price list guide explains how to compare offers from several suppliers, and the food cost guide how to pass a price on to the recipe costing sheet.