French Normandy Serves World’s Best Oysters

Almost two third of French clams are caught along the Normandy coast. (AFP)
Almost two third of French clams are caught along the Normandy coast. (AFP)
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French Normandy Serves World’s Best Oysters

Almost two third of French clams are caught along the Normandy coast. (AFP)
Almost two third of French clams are caught along the Normandy coast. (AFP)

In a beautiful town overlooking the English Channel, you can spot piles of hundreds of oysters in all the shapes and colors you can imagine at the Port-en-Bessin-Huppain. As of early October, you can find oysters that are at least 11 cm long at the fish auction store, according to the German news agency.

The French town features one of the best oyster fishing ports. The auction store is found at the end of the port, but it’s open only for fishermen and merchants, with few exceptions such as "Le Gout du Large" (Taste of Sea), an oyster festival held annually at the Port-en-Bessin-Huppain since 2004, usually in November.

"There is no better place that deserves to host this festival more than the Port-en-Bessin-Huppain," said fisherman Jérôme Vicquelin who inherited his profession from his father and ancestors.

He is proud of the legacy and sees fishing as a passion not a profession.

Fishing is the best industry in this town. If you are fond of oysters, France is the world’s best places to catch it alongside Ireland and Scotland. Almost two third of French clams are caught along the Normandy coast.

Oysters are fished using dredgers which search on groundwater levels and collect oysters with a net. Fishing operations have been strictly controlled for years, but oyster lovers say oysters of the Seine River are the best in the Normandy.



New Pair of Giant Pandas Gifted by Beijing Arrives in Hong Kong

A zookeeper feeds An An, one of two giant pandas gifted to Hong Kong, before heading to its new destination, at Dujiangyan Base of the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda in Dujiangyan, in southwestern China's Sichuan province on September 24, 2024. (Photo by AFP) / China OUT
A zookeeper feeds An An, one of two giant pandas gifted to Hong Kong, before heading to its new destination, at Dujiangyan Base of the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda in Dujiangyan, in southwestern China's Sichuan province on September 24, 2024. (Photo by AFP) / China OUT
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New Pair of Giant Pandas Gifted by Beijing Arrives in Hong Kong

A zookeeper feeds An An, one of two giant pandas gifted to Hong Kong, before heading to its new destination, at Dujiangyan Base of the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda in Dujiangyan, in southwestern China's Sichuan province on September 24, 2024. (Photo by AFP) / China OUT
A zookeeper feeds An An, one of two giant pandas gifted to Hong Kong, before heading to its new destination, at Dujiangyan Base of the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda in Dujiangyan, in southwestern China's Sichuan province on September 24, 2024. (Photo by AFP) / China OUT

Hong Kong welcomed a new pair of giant pandas gifted by Beijing on Thursday with a lavish ceremony, raising hopes for a boost to the city's tourism.
An An and Ke Ke are the third pair of giant pandas to be sent to the city from mainland China since the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Their arrival came after their new neighbor, Ying Ying, gave birth to twins last month and became the world’s oldest first-time panda mother on record, The Associated Press reported.
The newcomers bring the Ocean Park panda population to six, including the father of the twins, Le Le. Ocean Park chairman Paulo Pong Kin-Yee noted that would make three generations of giant pandas at the popular Hong Kong zoo and aquarium attraction.
Chief Executive John Lee said An An is a 5-year-old male panda who is agile, intelligent and active, while Ke Ke, a 5-year-old female, is good at climbing, cute and has a gentle temperament.
The new arrivals will be in quarantine for two months to adapt to their new home. Lee expressed hope that the public could meet the new bears in mid-December.
In October, the government will invite residents to propose new names that showcase the pandas’ characteristics.
Tourism industry representatives are optimistic about the potential impact of housing six pandas, hoping it will boost visitor numbers in Hong Kong. Officials have encouraged businesses to capitalize on the popularity of the new bears and newborn cubs to seize opportunities in what some lawmakers have dubbed the “panda economy."
Pandas are considered China’s unofficial national mascot. The country's giant panda loan program with overseas zoos has long been seen as a tool of Beijing’s soft-power diplomacy. Giant pandas are only found in China's southwest and their population is under threat from development.
But caring for pandas in captivity is expensive.