Mussel
4 cm min · 5 kg (all shellfish combined)
⚠ Gathering flagged as prohibited on the Le Tréport sign — check the order in force.
On the rocky platforms and rock armour exposed at low tide.
The sea at Le Tréport
Shellfishing at Le Tréport
Gathering shrimp, velvet crabs, periwinkles and shellfish on the foreshore at low tide — when to go, what to look for, and the rules to know.
See also: Shore fishing · Tides at Le Tréport · What to do in Le Tréport
When to go
The next big low tides
Shellfishing is done at low tide, and it's on the big coefficients that the foreshore is most exposed. Here are the next favourable low tides (high coefficient, in daytime) — for the full detail, see the Tides page.
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Arrive on site 1 to 2 h before the low-tide time shown: that's when the sea finishes retreating and you have the most time ahead of you.
What to gather
The foreshore species
Minimum sizes and maximum quantities from the information sign by Le Tréport beach (per person and per tide). Only the order in force is authoritative; if in doubt about the size, put the catch back.
Brown shrimp
3 cm min · 2 kg
With a push-net on sandy bottoms, in a few tens of centimetres of water. Peak season in autumn.
Common prawn
5 cm min · 2 kg
In the pools and crevices of the rocks. Fishing allowed from the last Saturday of April to 31 January.
Flat oyster
6 cm min · 5 kg (all shellfish combined)
Fixed on the rocks and old structures of the foreshore.
Periwinkle
5 kg (all shellfish combined)
On the rocks and weed, easy for beginners and perfect with children. Pick the biggest ones.
Velvet crab
6.5 cm min · 30 individuals
Under stones and in pools — turn over then put the stone back.
Brown crab
14 cm min · 10 individuals
Wedged under boulders and in rock fissures exposed at spring tides.
Spider crab
12 cm min
On rocky bottoms, especially in spring when it moves in towards the coast.
Lobster
8.7 cm min · 10 individuals
⚠ Species to be marked (tail marking mandatory).
In holes and fissures of the rocks; mostly a night outing.
Cockle
3 cm min · quotas per by-law
⚠ Subject to a prefectural by-law (dates & zones) — check the opening.
The emblematic shellfish of the Baie de Somme (the "hénon"), ~40 min south towards Le Hourdel and Cayeux: on the vast sand banks uncovered at low tide.
Razor clam
10 cm min
On the sandy foreshore of the Baie de Somme. Spot the keyhole-shaped hole, pour in coarse salt: the razor clam rises — lift it gently.
Clam
4 cm min
In the sand and mud of the Baie de Somme: two little surface holes give it away; dig with a rake or spade (≤ 35 cm).
5 kg maximum, all shellfish combined (mussels, oysters, periwinkles…). Cockles and clams can also be gathered in the sand (indicative sizes English Channel seaboard: 3 cm and 4 cm). Recreational fishing: selling the catch is forbidden.
⚠️ Safety — read before you go
- The tide comes back fast. Note the time of the turn and don't get cut off from the shore — never go down without watching the flood.
- Beware of the cliffs. Don't stand at the foot of the chalk cliffs (rockfalls / landslides).
- Bring non-slip shoes, and avoid the foreshore in rough weather or a heavy sea.
🦪 Shellfish safety
Gathering shellfish can be temporarily prohibited (water quality, algal blooms). Before eating mussels, oysters or cockles, check the sanitary classification and current orders for the area (Seine-Maritime prefecture / ARS Normandie). During an alert, you may look but not gather.
Frequently asked questions
When should you go shellfishing at Le Tréport?
At low tide, especially on a big coefficient (above 80-90). The next favourable daytime windows are listed at the top of the page.
What can you gather?
Brown and common shrimp, velvet crabs, brown crabs, periwinkles, flat oysters, and spider crab or lobster in the fissures — depending on the season and the exposed areas.
Do you need a permit?
Recreational shellfishing doesn't require a permit, but you must respect sizes, quantities and permitted areas, and the ban on selling your catch.
Difference with the site's "fishing forecast"?
Shellfishing means gathering on the foreshore at low tide. The Shore fishing page scores rod and drop-net fishing from the pier, species by species.
Gear & bait tip
Bait & tackle — “Au bord de l'eau”
Need bait or tackle? The shop “Au bord de l'eau”, on the quays at 7 quai François 1er, has everything you need — whether for shore foraging (pêche à pied) or shore fishing.
Opening hours
| Monday | 08:30–12:00 · 14:00–19:00 |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 08:00–12:00 · 14:00–19:00 |
| Wednesday | 08:30–12:00 · 14:00–19:00 |
| Thursday | Closed |
| Friday | 08:30–12:00 · 14:00–19:00 |
| Saturday | 08:30–12:00 · 14:00–19:00 |
| Sunday | 08:30–12:00 |
Tide, swell and weather estimated from Open-Meteo models, recomputed continuously; the per-species ratings are our own calculation. Indicative only — always check the turn of the tide before heading out, and never turn your back on the sea.