Johan Leguelinel | Destination Granville Land and Sea

Meeting with

Johan

Johan Leguelinel is 33 years old and a whelk fisherman in his home town of Granville, which is the leading landing port for this species in France and Europe. When he passes his Capitaine 200 Voile, he has to validate it and find a place to embark. The easiest thing to do was to fish in Granville – he asked his big brother, Didier – and so it was to fish for whelks!

Almost all the trips I’ve made have been in whelk fishing, so I’ve gained experience of the product. And compared with other people who go out for several days, we go out to sea for a day, so it’s easier for family life. I’ve stayed in the trade.

Johan

Being a whelk fisherman

in Granville

In practical terms, being a whelk fisherman in Granville means going out to sea for between 10 and 12 hours in general, to haul in 700 traps a day. The aim is to reach the 630 kg quota. During slower periods, like summer, it’s more like 200 or 300 kg a day. For his part, he unloads everything at the fish auction, as he doesn’t want to have to take delivery after his day at sea.

Fresh whelks can be eaten all year round,except in January. This is the month of biological standstill, as it’s the whelk’s mating and egg-laying season!

Protected geographical indication

Bay of Granville whelk

Johan is one of the fishermen who defended – and continue to defend – theIndication Géographique Protégée (IGP) Bulot Baie de Granville, obtained in 2019.

“It’s a recognition of our profession and our fishing processes, which are well regulated in terms of sorting and size in particular, to preserve the resource. “

His commitment to respecting the resource is reflected, among other things, in his role as Co-Chairman of the West Cotentin Bulot Commission.

I don’t think we can do things the way they used to be done. We realize that resources have been over-exploited. So it’s up to us to take steps to ensure the sustainability of our trade. With regard to resources, and in particular whelk resources, there’s overfishing, which can be damaging when poorly managed. And now there’s a new problem: climate change*.

Johan

*The whelk reproduces ideally in winter seas at 7 degrees. The higher the water temperature, the lower the whelk’s capacity to lay eggs en masse.

Discover