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Belon Oysters

We at J.P.’s Shellfish are once again offering the ever popular, though admittedly somewhat difficult source, Belon oysters (Ostrea edulis).  The Belons are very much a species unto themselves in the oyster world.  Originally harvested exclusively in the coastal French region that bears the same name, more likely than not, any Belon you see these days was farm-raised in the Western North Atlantic.  Not unlike the once seemingly inexhaustible fisheries of the Olympia, Kumamoto, and Chesapeake Bay oysters, a combination of over-fishing, pollution, and introduction of non-native species drove the French Belon fishery to commercial extinction.  During the latter decades of the 20th century, an enterprising group of individuals brought a few of the dwindling native population of Belons to the Eastern Canadian Maritimes, and tried their hands at inter-tidal aquaculture.  Much to the joy of North American shellfish lovers, the project was a success.  One of the problems inherent to Belons is their relatively low constitution.  I say this in comparison to a mid-winter North Atlantic oyster (Crassostrea virginica), which is at the other end of the spectrum.  At any rate, one of the problems with the French Belons has always been transporting them from their harvest area to the Americas.  The time out of water, the often jarring journey, and the comparatively large size of the Belons increased both the cost and liability associated with this unique species.  Essentially, the successful introduction of the Belons to North American waters eliminated these hurdles, and the highly sought after Belons became available with a greater degree of consistency, and at a more attractive rate.  The Belons are large oysters by any measure.  The valves are remarkably round, and the shells may seem more reminiscent of that of a scallop than an oyster.  As the valves are so large, it is not uncommon for Belons to have difficulty keeping their shells closed once removed from the water.  This results in an accelerated loss of liquor, and the ultimate result is an abbreviated life expectancy.  So what to do?  Well, each Belon you receive from J.P.’s Shellfish has not only been banded, but is also hand-packed in a wooden box (cup-side down, of course).  By placing elastic bands around the oysters, the Belon’s adductor muscles don’t have to exert as much force to keep their valves closed.  Placing the oysters in the boxes cup-side down allows the cupped valve to act as a natural vessel for the liquor.  These two seemingly simple acts go a long way in making sure you receive only the finest product possible.  Our Belons are typically packed out in 40 or 50 counts, depending on the size of the individual oysters.  Any and all pre-orders on the Belons will be greatly appreciated, and go a long way in minimizing disappointing.  

Please email info@jpshellfish.com or call 207-439-6018 for more information on this and or any other J.P.'s Shellfish product or service.