- The Jersey Oyster Company want to build a salt-water lagoon and purification ponds in Grouville
- Expansion of the business is needed to keep up with regulations, the company say
- Last year they produced more oysters than the whole of the UK
- Purification ponds will ensure that their oysters are not affected by pollution incidents
PLANS have been submitted to build a salt-water lagoon and 12 purification ponds on fields in Grouville.
The Jersey Oyster Company are seeking permission for the new infrastructure to keep up with regulations relating to the packaging of their popular product.
The company also want to improve staff facilities and create a clean area for packing their oysters for the retail market.
At present, the business, whose oyster beds are in Grouville Bay, sell their produce to wholesalers who package the oysters before selling them to retailers. If approved, the development would allow the Jersey Oyster Company to sell directly to retailers as they would be able treat and package their produce themselves.
The salt water lagoon and purification ponds, planned for Fields 545 and 545A off, would also help oyster production should Grouville Bay’s waters become polluted.
Earlier this year a slurry spill at a nearby farm prompted Environmental Health to warn Islanders to stay away from Grouville Bay temporarily. They also informed the Island’s oyster farmers of the incident.
The plans would also mean fewer trips in vehicles on Grouville Bay beach by the company, would improve the availability of stock for customers and create an opportunity to develop a nursery for seed oysters to allow the business to become more independent.
According to a document submitted as part of the company’s planning application, the company produced more oysters than the whole of the UK in 2013.
And last year the business produced 894 tonnes of the shellfish, with the majority sold to the French wholesale market.
Jersey Oyster Company managing director Chris Le Masurier said: ‘The plans are just to keep in front of the rules and regulations of packaging, food safety and hygiene.’
Last month Jersey Oyster Company, Jersey Sea Farms and Seymour Oysters joined forces to make the first application for accreditation from the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), which manages the global standards for responsible and sustainable aquaculture, or sea farming.
‘We’ve got the accreditation, but the oysters can’t be branded “ASC” unless they are packaged and exported by us or by an ASC-accredited company,’ Mr Le Masurier added.
‘So we’re promoting our produce for what it actually is.
‘Also, we’ve got no control over the water quality in Grouville Bay. By making these tanks and this lagoon on shore the water can be purified and the oysters treated with ultraviolet light, which is also a requirement for the packaging regulations and food health rules.
‘Our production areas are all pretty much full, so this is not about expansion, it’s just about getting up to date for packaging rules so we can supply supermarkets.’
The plans will now be considered by the Planning Department.
JERSEY’S oyster farmers were the first in the world to be recognised by an international organisation that sets global standards for responsible and sustainable aquaculture production.
Jersey Oyster Company, Jersey Sea Farms and Seymour Oysters joined forces to make the first application for accreditation from the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) which manages the global standards for responsible and sustainable aquaculture, or sea farming.
Jersey Oyster’s owner, Chris Le Masurier, who is the third generation of his family to farm oysters and mussels in the Royal Bay of Grouville, hopes it will open new markets for the already thriving local industry.
‘It is nice to be the first,’ he said. ‘It’s been a long process because we were the first in the world to receive accreditation, which is really good for Jersey. I am confident that we’ve opened their eyes to aquaculture in Jersey and set the standard quite high.
The three local businesses were assessed last year by examiners against the ASC Bivalve Standard and they had to demonstrate that they were responsible employers, farmed according to best practice and could guarantee the provenance and traceabilty of their products.
