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

July at French auctions: sardine, bluefin tuna, albacore, lobster, spiny lobster, bouchot mussel. Sea bass at its dearest, milky oysters. Substitutes, prices.

Updated 4 min readLiveCriée editorial team

July: Sardine, Atlantic bluefin tuna, Albacore (thon germon), European spiny lobster, European lobster, Brown crabJFMAMJJASONDIN SEASONJulySardineAtlantic bluefin tunaAlbacore (thon germon)European spiny lobsterEuropean lobsterBrown crab
Contents
  1. What arrives at auction in July?
  2. What becomes scarce?
  3. Which substitutes for the menu?
  4. Points to watch on prices
  5. Frequently asked questions

In July, the fish auctions switch to summer mode: sardine, Atlantic bluefin tuna, pollack, John Dory, langoustine, European lobster, European spiny lobster (langouste rouge) and brown crab are in full season, bouchot mussels open their season and albacore arrives; oysters are milky, cuttlefish and octopus at their low point, and sea bass nears its highest price of the year. It is the heart of the summer menu.

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 July?

SpeciesWhat auction sales showWhat to know when buying
SardineFull season: about 1,800 tonnes in July 2024Under €1/kg at auction
Atlantic bluefin tunaMost auction sales fall from July to October (about 165 tonnes in July 2024, the strongest month)Quota fishery; around €10 to €11/kg
Albacore (thon germon)Start of season: about 230 tonnes in July 2024Around €3/kg
European spiny lobsterPeak of the year, about 36 tonnesAround €35/kg
European lobsterStill at its peak, about 43 tonnesAround €23/kg
Brown crabFull seasonAround €6/kg
LangoustineFull season, about 240 tonnesThe price rises again, around €14/kg
PollackBiggest month of 2024, about 120 tonnesAround €11/kg
John DoryFull season, about 90 tonnesPrice rising, around €18.50/kg
Bouchot musselOpening of the season, generally in JulyFor the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel PDO, season generally from July to February; dates vary by growing area
Saithe, wedge sole (céteau)Full season

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

What becomes scarce?

  • Oysters are milky; triploids, which produce very few gametes, are hardly milky. Oysters under the PGI "Huîtres Marennes Oléron" are only sold from 1 September to 31 May.
  • Cuttlefish stays at its low point, at its highest price of the year (about €7.50/kg in July 2024, nearly double the winter price).
  • Octopus falls to a few dozen tonnes.
  • Common prawn is almost absent.
  • Turbot comes off its peak: about 36 tonnes in July 2024, and an average price rising again towards €25/kg.
  • King scallop is closed, warty venus clam and herring are absent.
  • Sea bass is available but close to its highest price: about €22/kg in July 2024.

Which substitutes for the menu?

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

  • If you had on the menuWild sea bassIn July, think ofLine-caught pollack, meagreWhy : Sea bass at its dearest; pollack at its strongest
  • If you had on the menuOystersIn July, think ofBouchot mussels, brown crabWhy : Milky oysters, mussels in season
  • If you had on the menuTurbotIn July, think ofJohn DoryWhy : Turbot coming off its peak
  • If you had on the menuAtlantic bluefin tunaIn July, think ofAlbacoreWhy : Albacore arriving, about three times cheaper at auction

Points to watch on prices

  1. Sea bass at the top. Its average auction price reaches about €22/kg in July and August 2024, more than double January's. If sea bass stays on the menu, cost it on this price and not on the spring one.
  2. Langoustine rises again. From about €10/kg in June to €14 in July, then €19 in August (2024). Langoustine dishes on the summer menu deserve a review in mid-July.
  3. Atlantic bluefin tuna: irregular volumes. It is a quota fishery: landings vary from one week to the next. Plan albacore as a fallback.
  4. Heat and deliveries. Heatwaves require fast receipt and strict temperature checks: the deliveries guide details the points to check.

The price list guide explains how to compare offers from several suppliers in full season.

Frequently asked questions

Which fish is in season in July?

Sardine, Atlantic bluefin tuna, albacore, pollack, John Dory and mackerel on the fish side; European lobster, European spiny lobster, brown crab and langoustine on the crustacean side; bouchot mussels on the shellfish side.

When does the albacore season start?

In July. There is almost no albacore at auction from November to May; landings rise in July, peak in August and continue until October.

Can you eat oysters in July?

Yes, but most oysters are milky in summer, their reproduction period. Triploid oysters, which produce very few gametes, are hardly milky.

Why does sea bass cost more in July?

Because its auction landings are low in summer (about 135 to 145 tonnes a month from May to August 2024, against 310 in January), at a time when demand is strong. In 2024, its average auction price more than doubled between January and July.

Sources

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