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

June at French fish auctions: lobster, spiny lobster, brown crab, langoustine, turbot, meagre, sardine. Milky oysters, scarce cuttlefish. Substitutes and prices.

Updated 4 min readLiveCriée editorial team

June: European lobster, Brown crab, Langoustine, European spiny lobster, Turbot, MeagreJFMAMJJASONDIN SEASONJuneEuropean lobsterBrown crabLangoustineEuropean spiny lobsterTurbotMeagre
Contents
  1. What arrives at auction in June?
  2. What becomes scarce?
  3. Which substitutes for the menu?
  4. Points to watch on prices
  5. Frequently asked questions

In June, summer begins at the fish auctions: langoustine, European lobster, European spiny lobster (langouste rouge), brown crab, turbot, mackerel, sardine, pollack and John Dory are in full season, and meagre reaches its peak; oysters enter their milky period, cuttlefish and common prawn become scarce, and king scallop fishing is closed. It is the month when crustaceans are at their best price of the year.

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 June?

SpeciesWhat auction sales showWhat to know when buying
European lobsterPeak of the year along with July: about 42 tonnes in June 2024Lowest average price of the year, around €21/kg
Brown crabFull seasonLowest average price of the year, around €5/kg
LangoustineStill about 345 tonnes in June 2024Around €10/kg, as in May
European spiny lobsterStart of full season, from June to AugustAround €32/kg, against €67 in December
TurbotSecond month of its peakAround €20/kg; spawning period, from late May to mid-July on the coasts of northern Finistère
MeagrePeak of the year: about 90 tonnes in June 2024Around €10/kg
Sardine, mackerelStart of the summer sardine season, mackerel in full seasonUnder €1/kg for sardine at auction
Pollack, saithe, John Dory, wedge sole (céteau)Full season
Atlantic bluefin tunaStart of season, under quota

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

What becomes scarce?

  • Oysters enter their milky period (reproduction); 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 (PGI specification).
  • Cuttlefish falls to its lowest: about 160 tonnes in June 2024, against 620 in April, and its average price goes from about €4.30 to over €7/kg.
  • Common prawn is almost absent.
  • Bouchot mussels arrive at the end of the month at the earliest: for the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel PDO, harvesting is allowed from 15 June, but its opening, set each year by the INAO according to the flesh content, usually falls in July; dates vary from one growing area to another.
  • Albacore only arrives at the end of the month, in small quantities.
  • King scallop is closed until 30 September; warty venus clam is absent from the auctions.
  • Sea bass remains available, but its price rises: around €19/kg in June 2024.

Which substitutes for the menu?

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

  • If you had on the menuOystersIn June, think ofBrown crab, spider crab, langoustineWhy : Milky oysters, crustaceans at their best price
  • If you had on the menuKing scallopIn June, think ofLangoustine, European lobsterWhy : King scallop closed
  • If you had on the menuWild sea bassIn June, think ofMeagre, pollackWhy : Sea bass getting dearer, meagre at its peak
  • If you had on the menuCommon prawnIn June, think ofLangoustineWhy : Prawn out of season

Points to watch on prices

  1. Build the summer menu on crustaceans. In June 2024, lobster (about €21/kg), brown crab (about €5) and langoustine (about €10) were at their lowest average auction price of the year. Langoustine rises again from July, and doubles in August.
  2. Sea bass enters its most expensive period. Its average auction price rises from about €10/kg in January to €19 in June, then €22 in July and August. On a main course, meagre or pollack protect the food cost ratio.
  3. Oysters: ask your supplier. Diploid or triploid, origin: in summer, this information helps you choose oysters your customers will like.
  4. The heat. The first hot days put the cold chain to the test, from the auction to the kitchen: the deliveries guide recalls the checks on receipt.

The food cost guide shows how to cost a crustacean portion at its real yield.

Frequently asked questions

Which fish is in season in June?

Turbot, meagre, pollack, John Dory, sardine and mackerel on the fish side; European lobster, European spiny lobster, brown crab, spider crab and langoustine on the crustacean side.

Can you serve oysters in June?

Yes, but summer is the oysters' reproduction period, when they become milky. They remain edible but many customers dislike them; triploids, which produce very few gametes, are hardly milky.

Is lobster cheaper in June?

Yes. June is its most plentiful month at auction, and its average price is then the lowest of the year, around €21/kg in 2024, half of December's.

Why is sea bass more expensive in summer?

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 doubled between January and July.

Sources

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