The theft from the Huîtres de Trousse Chemise farm is the second major oyster theft on the Ile de Ré in the past two weeks, The Times reports.

Police suspect that the oysters have been taken by gangs who will sell the oysters to wholesalers, ultimately reaching marketplaces across France.

Franck Moreau, owner of the Huîtres de Trousse Chemise farm, said: “It is a bad year for oysters as it is. We haven’t had good growth […] Prices risk spiralling upwards.”

France is the biggest oyster producer in Europe, selling 85,947 tonnes of oysters for a total of €398 million in 2019.