Since the 16th century, the Portrieux harbour has been used for inshore fishing, deep-sea fishing for Newfoundland and coastal shipping, as it provides excellent natural shelter. The sea does not retreat too far, and the depth of the channel close to the shore is sufficient for large ships to manoeuvre and take shelter there. 

In 1726, the 1st masonry jetty in the Bay of Saint-Brieuc was built here.

It was financed by the States of Brittany. This first port enabled the development of Newfoundland fishing and coastal shipping. But the port, completed in 1754, soon proved too small and storms damaged the jetty.

1820-1824: first section of the current jetty

The 1726 jetty was demolished and a new jetty 150 metres long and around 10 metres wide was built, facing further east. It was topped by a parapet wall in 1842 and flanked by a magnificent breakwater. Long-distance fishing and coastal shipping flourished in this busy port. The village grew with its fishermen’s houses, shipowners’ houses and all the trades that went with these maritime activities.

1820-1824: first section of the current jetty

The 1726 jetty was demolished, and a jetty was built between 1876 and 1880 to extend the existing jetty.

Violent tidal currents caused the port to silting up, and storms damaged the breakwater.

After lengthy studies, it was decided to extend the jetty. Work began in 1876 and was completed in 1880. The new section was 200 metres long with an original width of 9.70 metres, which was then reduced to a uniform width of 3 metres throughout the new section, with the exception of the end (the musoir) where it was increased to 5 metres. It forms an angle with the first section to provide better shelter from easterly winds. Capacity has been considerably increased. This is the jetty as you see it.150 metres long and around 10 metres wide was built, facing further east. It was topped by a parapet wall in 1842 and flanked by a magnificent breakwater. Long-distance fishing and coastal shipping flourished in this busy port. The village grew with its fishermen’s houses, shipowners’ houses and all the trades that went with these maritime activities.

1971 – 1973: the Port-es-Leu jetty

In the 1970s, inshore scallop fishing developed. During the season, from October to May, the port welcomed many trawlers from neighbouring departments. A new jetty extending from the Port-es-Leu towards the main breakwater sheltered the port from south-easterly winds and considerably enlarged it. The Richet quay, linking the eastern and western parts of the harbour, has enabled the current development of the Port-es-Leu, where the careening area and the nautical centre are now located.

1990: Inauguration of the deepwater port: the “Port d’Armor

As early as 1974, there was talk of creating a deepwater port in the Bay of Saint-Brieuc, to ensure the safety of fishing boats by allowing them to take shelter whatever the height of the tide, and to accommodate the growing number of pleasure boaters. The Saint-Quay-Portrieux site was chosen. Work began in 1988 and was completed in 1990. The Port d’Armor was built on the breakwater of the grounding port. It is the first deep-water port between Brest and Cherbourg and one of the only ports of its type to accommodate both fishing and yachting. With its fish auction, Saint-Quay-Portrieux is set to become France’s 6th largest fishing port and the capital of scallop fishing by 2022.