<p>This article examines the social transformation within the French oyster industry from a long-term perspective (1850–2020). A social transformation of marine socio-ecosystems is defined as a fundamental change in the practices, institutions and values which constitute these systems. The hypothesis tested is that the consistency between these three pillars guarantees stability, while conversely, loss of consistency may contribute to social transformation. Based on an extensive literature review, this study uses an analytical grid which builds upon three conceptual frameworks: the resilience approach, the socio-technical transition theory and the agrarian change theory. The article demonstrates how the development of the French oyster-farming industry has been going through various distinct phases. Supported by the State since its emergence in the mid-19th century in view to providing jobs to coastal populations, the industry has also been dependent on the innovations of entrepreneurs and investors. For reasons of economic efficiency, oyster-farming leaseholds were progressively privatized. Later on, a series of production collapses also led to changes in farming practices and the creation of community management institutions in the 1980s. While these institutions were expected to ensure social stability, avoid overexploitation and manage oyster mortality crises, in reality they hardly achieved these objectives. At present, highly contrasting production models coexist in the industry reflecting opposite conceptions of the social role of the industry and the values it embodies. The evolution of the social performance of management institutions and the hybridization of professional identities are signs that a fundamental social transformation may have occurred within the French oyster farming industry. A further adaptation of institutions may be required in order to reduce the level of inconsistencies that have gradually crept into the system as a whole.</p>