The Anchovy only entered the history of the port of La Turballe some twenty years ago. Originally a sardine fishing port, the change took place because some fishermen turned away from fishing for sardines, which were selling badly, to fish for Anchovies. Little by little, the Anchovy progressed, and has made the La Turballe fishing fleet the largest anchovy fishing fleet in France in 2000, with thirty boats fishing for Anchovy using the pelagic trawl.



     The port of La Turballe lives with the rhythm of this fish, and almost 2/3 of its recorded landings are Anchovies.

     The relatively regular and abundant production over the years has encouraged the fish wholesalers of the port into developing a network and market in Spain.
 

     This is an ideal scenario that has continued on the basis of on-going negotiation with the Spanish holders of anchovy quotas who are ungenerous with this small fish taken on their territory.

     The North East Atlantic Anchovy council was set up by the professionals in the port of La Turballe and brings together producers and fish wholesalers with the aim of crystallising the identity and dynamics of this port activity.

     This association uses discussion and observation fora to define guidelines to determine the necessary actions to maintain this economic activity.Set up on 15th March 2001, it is located in the centre of the fishing port of La Turballe, and is managed by a board of directors, which decides on the orientations defined by its Chairman Stephan RIO and its Vice-chairman Patrick LAGRE.

     Its objective is defined as follows: bringing together the professionals in the anchovy industry to define the actions and conduct the studies necessary to develop their business.

     The members, whether producers or fish wholesalers, must form part of the anchovy business within the zone represented by the association and accept that a financial contribution be deducted from each kilogram of anchovies placed on the market.

     The association is the undisputed platform for dialogue during the Anchovy campaigns.