Bellet Fish Farm

Based in Ruelle-sur-Touvre, in the heart of the Angoumois region, Fish Farm Bellet benefits from an environment that is particularly well-suited to trout farming: the ponds are fed by water from the springs of the River Touvre, the temperature of which remains naturally stable at around 13 °C.

This family-run business has developed an operation that combines fish farming and processing, with the aim of showcasing trout in various forms and promoting short supply chains.

History and origins

The Bellet family has long been associated with this business. Yann Bellet, the founder’s son, has managed the family business since 1993. Since January 2025, the company has been chaired by Loïc Bellet, representing the next generation of the family.

The business has gradually expanded around two complementary sites: the fish farm in Touvre and a processing facility in Ruelle-sur-Touvre. The processing facility was established in 2014.

Expertise

The strength of Fish Farm Bellet lies first and foremost in its location on the banks of the headwaters of the River Touvre. This fresh, steady supply of water provides ideal conditions for trout farming.

The farm specialises in rainbow trout and brown trout, both of which are officially registered at the Touvre site.

The day-to-day work requires constant attention: feeding, health monitoring, sorting, transferring the fish, maintaining the ponds and preparing shipments are all part of the job.

Mastery of several stages in the production chain then enables part of the harvest to be processed: the trout can be sold whole, as fillets, smoked or in prepared dishes.

Products

• Fresh trout. This is the farm’s flagship product. It can be sold whole or as fillets, with firm, flavourful flesh.
• Smoked trout. The processing facility produces smoked trout, notably smoked over beechwood.
• Trout fillets. Convenient for cooking, they make it easy to prepare trout in a frying pan, in the oven or on the barbecue.
• Rillettes and trout-based products. The processing facility also enables the fish to be turned into ready-to-eat dishes.
• Trout roe. This is also part of the range of products offered by the fish farm.

The signature product

Trout is inextricably linked to the identity of Fish Farm Bellet. Reared in the immediate vicinity of the source of the River Touvre, it benefits from water whose temperature remains naturally stable throughout the year.

To enjoy it at its simplest, a trout fillet pan-fried in butter, served with new potatoes and a few fresh herbs, allows the flavour of the flesh to shine through without being overpowered.

Smoked trout, meanwhile, is particularly well suited to being enjoyed as an aperitif, on a slice of toasted bread, or in a fresh salad.

The visitor experience

Fish Farm Bellet is committed to developing short supply chains and markets its products through various channels, including direct sales, farmers’ markets, the catering sector and supermarkets. At the Villement aquaculture farm, members of the public can purchase processed products and fresh trout directly from the producer.

The experience can be extended with a 457 m² fishing area, open during the summer season and dedicated mainly to rainbow and brown trout. It’s a particularly enjoyable way to discover the world of Bellet whilst taking the time to observe the ponds and the aquaculture work.

This direct connection to the landscape is undoubtedly what gives the place its special charm. Here, the product is never abstract: it is linked to a river, a family and a tradition of expertise passed down for over half a century.

Where can you find the products?

Fish Farm Bellet’s products are sold through short supply chains, notably via direct sales and farmers’ shops.

• The production site and company headquarters are located at: Pisciculture Bellet, 11 rue du Moulin du Roy, 16600 Touvre.
• A second site, dedicated primarily to processing, is situated at: Ferme aquacole de Villement, 2257 route du Gond Pontouvre, 16600 Ruelle-sur-Touvre.

Key points

Fish Farm Bellet is a family-run business deeply rooted in the Touvre and Angoumois regions. Its history, its location on the banks of the Touvre’s headwaters and its expertise in trout farming make it a key player in the Charente fish farming sector.

From farming to processing, Bellet offers various ways to enjoy trout: fresh, filleted, smoked or prepared. A great place to remember for lovers of local produce and fish farmed in the Charente.