Around 1860, the first modern oyster cultivation techniques were developed in the Marennes-Oléron region of France, marking the beginning of the French oyster farming industry. Oyster farmers began using tiles and other materials to collect oyster spat, which were then transplanted to beds for grow-out. This innovation transformed oyster production from a wild-capture fishery to a controlled aquaculture practice, ensuring a more reliable and abundant supply. The Marennes-Oléron oysters became renowned for their quality and flavor.

The French oyster culture appears in the works of French poets and novelists, including Émile Zola and Guy de Maupassant, who used oyster farming as a setting for stories of coastal life and romantic intrigue. The industry also inspired a body of regional poetry that celebrated the oyster beds and the traditions of the oyster farmers. The oyster became a symbol of French gastronomy and coastal identity.