Roscoff fish auction:its premium fish and crustaceans, the seasons and how to get fish delivered

01

The Roscoff fish auction in figures

Source: FranceAgriMer, sales declared at fish auctions in 2024; ranks calculated by the editorial team on 34 auction halls.

Volumes fell by 11% in one year, but value lost only 3%: the average price rose by 9%, to €5.58/kg, well above the national average (€4.13/kg). Over ten years, landings have fallen by a quarter (5,076 tonnes in 2015), as at French fish auctions as a whole.

Roscoff has a distinctive fleet: gillnetters brought in 37% of the volumes and 46% of the value there in 2024, more than "exclusive" trawlers (46% of the volumes, 38% of the value); dredgers account for 7% of the value (editorial team's calculation from FranceAgriMer data).

02

Which species can you find in Roscoff?

Source: FranceAgriMer, 2024 data; shares (by volume) and ranks calculated by the editorial team on the total of French fish auctions.

Monkfish alone accounts for 28% of the value sold. Next come expensive flatfish and line fish, sold in small quantities: turbot (more than €22/kg on average), brill, John Dory, red porgy and sea bass. Nearly half of the brown crab sold at auction in France goes through Roscoff, and one European lobster in eight. Blonde ray (raie lisse), with 183 tonnes, is sold there more than anywhere else, except Saint-Quay-Portrieux. King scallop, on the other hand, accounts for only 146 tonnes.

03

When to buy what? The calendar of the leading species

The calendar marks the months of high landings, read from the monthly sales of all French fish auctions in 2024. Turbot, brill and brown crab are not included: we have not recorded their monthly rhythm.

The price often moves against volumes, and the holidays weigh on premium fish. Monkfish stayed at around €5.50 to €5.80/kg for a good part of 2024 nationally, then rose to €6.40/kg in November and to more than €9/kg in December. John Dory was worth about €13/kg in January and exceeded €18/kg from July to September. Whiting fell below €2/kg in February, its most plentiful month.

04

How does the sale work?

• Bidding reserved for declared buyers with the auction hall operator (Article D932-9 of the French rural code). The sale time is not published: check with the fish auction or your fish merchant.
• A fish auction at the port of Bloscon, the deep-water port of Roscoff. FranceAgriMer lists it under the name Roscoff; in the north of Finistère, the only other fish auction hall is in Brest, 65 km away.
• A new operator. According to the Brittany Region, which entrusted its management to BrestPort, the port of Roscoff-Bloscon has been managed since 1 January 2026 by RoscoffPort, for its three activities (fishing, commerce and leisure boating), for a transitional period of three years at most.

05

The fish merchants of the Léon

Around the port, fish merchanting (mareyage) companies buy in the hall, sort, grade, pack and ship; for crustaceans, part is sold alive. On fish such as turbot or brill, the size grade makes all the difference to the price: always ask for the weight per piece. The size grades guide explains how to read them, and the price list guide how to compare two offers.

We do not publish a list of fish merchants. Company profiles will come with their agreement.

06

How to get fish delivered from Roscoff?