Please see the Port Of Truro - future or
Traditional Vessels
pages, or email your comments to oysterfight@cornishnativeoysters.co.uk

The end of the oyster is nigh…

Fal Oyster, a unique wild native oyster is under threat of extinction, along with ‘scuppering’ the last traditional sailing fleet in the world, just in time for a multi million pound master-planned toxic cruise liner terminal

The ‘Fal Oyster’ is awaiting confirmation of a Protected Name Status (*1), its unique because of the geology and ecology of the 500 hectares of the Oyster & Mussel Fishery

The unique fishery is under real threat from another Bonamia outbreak, but even with all the movement documents and land based office workers ‘protecting’ the environment, no one can say whether it was from:
The introduction of Pacific Oysters from France to the Helford Special Area of Conservation in 2007 (*2) and the dumping of cultch onto the fishery, including Pacific Shells, after the annual Falmouth Oyster Festivals that was sponsored by Duchy Oyster in 2009-2011.

The attempt to dredge over 9,732 cubic metres of the ‘highest concentrations of toxic materials, including heavy metals found in antifouling, to be found in the UK’, as part of the planned Falmouth Marina Development, also in 2007 (*3)

Laying up of large ships ‘Bunkering’ in the Bay and upper reaches of the Fal and the discharges of overseas ballast water within the ‘eddy’ of sea from Dodman to Lizard

CEFAS officer commented off the record that it was quite likely that it came from one of the above

The Fal Oyster has been gathered from the Truro & Fal Rivers by traditional methods for hundreds of years, the last regulated fishing fleet in the world working under sail and oar will be ‘scupper’d’ if DEFRA impose EU regulations (*4) on ‘under 10m engineless vessels’

It seems since 2005 the ‘exemption’, won by Captain Brigden in 1992, is invalid and the oystermen have been committing an offence under EU Law (*5), even though the Port of Truro Harbour Office has been charging and issuing dredge licenses since 1992 when vessels were not required to be registered 

The very last sailing fleet of historic fishing vessels could be extinct if the MMO and MCA cannot find a reason to save the fleet from decommissioning and disrepair. The ‘hot potato’ was handed to the MMO by DEFRA since Mr Benyon MP wrote about the increased number of enquiries on the exemption in domestic licensing legislation, “which is not in conformity with EU law” (*6)

The oystermen are already anxious about the first reported case of Bonamia Exitiosa in mainland Europe. Although other countries have traces of the disease neither New Zealand, France, Italy, Spain nor Portugal has ‘admitted it exists’

But now with the real threat of MCA Surveys, Licensing Associated Fee’s and any appeal on the disastrous ‘planned dredging and dumping of 1,000,000 tonnes of silt for the Falmouth Cruise Liner Terminal’ South West Fishermen are sure that will be the death of the fish and shellfish from Lands End to Plymouth (*7)

"Congratulations! You (Cornish Native Oysters .co.uk) have been recommended in The Good Produce Guide 2011 as one of the best places to buy produce in the UK! 3yrs on a Small Business breaks even and was looking forward to generations of sustainable fishing, satisfaction from Michelin Star Restaurants and International Food Writers (*8) but what can one man do against all this… without you!

*1 - SUMMARY COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006 on protected geographical indications and protected designations of origin “Fal Oyster” EC No: PDO (Y) PGI ( )
Email: protectedfoodnames@defra.gsi.gov.uk

*2 – Movements of non-native Pacific Oysters by Duchy Aquaculture Ltd, was funded by £240,000 worth of investment from Objective One Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance Fund. The company suffered 70% loss of both Native and Pacific oysters when the red algae starved the Helford River of oxygen and the over-stocked little bivalves drowned. The company went into liquidation and the owner bought it back for £35,000

*3 Falmouth Packet 29/12/10 Front Page & Page 14

*4“A Community fishing vessel may only be used for commercial exploitation of a living aquatic resources if it has a valid fishing license onboard” The Regulation of Fish Buyers and Sellers and Designation of Fish Auction Sites Regulations 2005 (England)

*5  ‘Any person who sells fish first sale which has been landed in the UK otherwise than by a licensed fishing vessel is guilty of an offence’ The Regulation of Fish Buyers and Sellers and Designation of Fish Auction Sites Regulations 2005 (England)

*6 Letter from Richard Benyon MP to Andrew George MP 17th January 2011 REF MC211212/SB

*7 1 million tonnes divided by 1.3 density equals over 700,000 m3 of silt, 100,000 highest concentrations of toxic materials to be land filled, 600,000 to be dumped 2 miles South of St Anthony Head. One sq KM site would mean the waste will be piled 60cm thick, or at 1cm thick covering 60 sq KM. This will destroy the fishing grounds just as they seem to be abundant again. Fishermen’s Meeting held Mylor, April 2011

*8 Heaven is a bed of native oysters, British natives preferably, Irish is next best. I remember watching the contestants at the Tabasco Oyster Opening Championships shuck the season’s first ostrea edulis at Bentley’s in Piccadilly, desperately twisting their knives to unhinge these most private of molluscs. Interest in oysters is growing, with beds being revived around the British coastline. My current favourite, Cornish Native Oysters, are harvested from the sea by skipper (Christopher) ‘Ranger’ in his non-motored, sailing craft, the Alf Smythers (available online from www.cornishnativeoysters.co.uk – they travel well, by the way.) 
Author: Rose Prince

http://www.roseprince.co.uk/blog/2010/oct/10/oyster-bedlam/

 

Name and Address (always printed)

C J Ranger

Cornish Native Oysters .co.uk
Mylor, Falmouth, TR11 5UF

07791 378503

www.cornishnativeoysters.co.uk
oneman@cornishnativeoysters.co.uk

Dated September 1st 2011

ENDS

 ___________ ___ ___________

Draft Resolution arising from the Symposium at RCPS on March 12

Presuming that:

Cornwall has a tradition of low impact sustainable fishing practices (eg Truro River Oyster Boats)
Cornwall is a maritime county with a relatively low economic profile
Cornwall has a developing profile of innovative activity, particularly in the marine sector
The UK Government is committed to a low carbon economy
Oil prices are continuously inflating and predicted to rise as Peak Oil approaches
Local sourcing of food product is seen as a key component of a sustainable future
The analogy of non-DVLA registered "vintage cars" indicates regulatory pragmatism
Current fisheries licencing rules effectively bar new entrants to the inshore fishery
Current English law allows commercial fisheries effort using craft less than 10m LOA powered by sail and/or oar with a small motor auxilliary for entering and leaving harbour
That the UK Government is considering extinguishing this right to fish under sail and oar
That the current "eco fishing" rules stimulate marine innovation and thus economic activity in Cornwall


The Symposium Concludes:

That territorial waters fisheries are a public resource
That consolidation of the fisheries resource to large organisations is contrary to public policy and eco-system management
That a sustainable inshore fishery is a key component of sustainable and resilient coastal communities
That coastal communities need support to access viable bio-mass
That coastal communities should be encouraged to design and build their own fishing vessels
That coastal cummunities should have affordable access to their local waters
That coastal communities shold have access to enhanced markets for their fishery products
That devolved authority to local regulatory and management organisations is key to achieving stated goals
Local youth should be encouraged to access inshore fisheries and develop a sustainable business model
That outreach and educational work is key to developing sustainable inshore fisheries
That continuous research into artisanal fisheries acknowledging historic practices should be encouraged

The Symposium Recommends:

That regulators should study the Truro River Oyster Fishery and the Jumbo Association of St Ives
That the current law relating to sail and oar powered fishing boats is maintained, subject to a legal requirement on such craft that regular fishery effort reports be made available to (C)IFCA
That there should be legal clarification of the use of small engines to pilot boats in and out of harbour
That all craft engaged in such activity should be incentivised to publicise their work to the wider community through festivals, conferences, school visits etc

Key statement for Press Release: "A light regulatory touch to encourage fishing under sail and oar will help develop a sustainable inshore fishery, support local communities, provide a low cost entry into the industry, develop marine innovation and provide high value food product to enhanced markets. At all costs we must do all we can to halt the Privatisation of the Oceans."

Rory Mcphee 2011

 ___________ ___ ___________