Mussel farming on bouchots (stakes) was established from 1956 on the east coast of Cotentin thanks to the installation of mussel farmers (boucholeurs) from Vendée and Bretagne in search of collection sites located very low on the foreshore. Norman mussel farmers replaced them in the 1970s to practice actual farming over some 24.8 miles (40 km) in sectors stretching from Sainte Marie-du-Mont (photo) to Saint Germain-de-Vareville and from Aumeville-Lestre to Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue. On the west coast of the Cotentin, the first concessions appeared in 1963 south of La Sienne and quickly extended over more than 167 miles (270 km).