Tonnes of oysters stolen

Photo / Supplied

Around 240,000 oysters have been stolen in the biggest seafood theft in French history.

Police arrested a 51-year-old professional shore fisherman last weekend on the island of Oleron off the western coast. They found that he had amassed 14.5 tonnes, or 20,000 dozen oysters in four poaching expeditions between December and February.

The suspect had a permit to clear disused oyster farms but apparently decided to "clean up" neighbouring farms that were still in use.