Chris Le Masurier, of the Jersey Oyster Company, said he had also received ‘confusing’ and contradictory advice about his export operation, with reports circulating in the national media and from the UK government that cast doubt over the future of his livelihood.
A report posted this week on the UK’s Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs’ website said that the EU Commission was ‘concerned’ about the export of bivalve mollusc shellfish – such as oysters, mussels, clams, cockles and scallops – from British producers if they had not been made fit for human consumption. Most oysters shipped from Jersey would not meet that requirement.
The statement was posted in response to media reports that an indefinite ban was being applied on produce harvested from waters with a low cleanliness grading.
The post says: ‘The [UK] government is in touch with the commission to raise the issue and find an appropriate solution. Shellfish harvested from class-A waters, or that have been cleaned and are ready for human consumption, can continue to be exported to the EU.’
Mr Le Masurier said that he had been able to export his produce, which mainly goes to France, since the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December, including sending a shipment that was received in St Malo this week.
But he added that he was highly concerned by the potential ban on uncleaned shellfish due to Jersey not having ‘class-A waters’ and only having enough capacity to purify a fraction of its current exports.
‘Jersey seawater is class B, not grade A. For oysters to go for human consumption they either have to be relaid in grade-A waters or they have to be purified,’ he said.
‘Yes, we have purification tanks, but our system is only scaled to clean probably about 20% of what we sell. Other Jersey oyster farms are in a similar situation. I’m really concerned because if we were forced by this ban from relaying oysters into the EU, it would close us overnight.’
Mr Le Masurier added that the advice he had received previously was contrary to what was now coming from the UK government and media.
‘There has been a real lack of clarity on this. We were told that there’s no problem shipping oysters for relaying – that means they are going back on the beach or onward for purification – and we could not export oysters direct for
human consumption,’ he said.
‘Now the UK media is reporting it the other way around. It is so unclear – everything we have exported this year has been for relaying.’
He added that his business had already been hit by heavier bureaucracy and paperwork due to Brexit.
During a Scrutiny hearing earlier this week, Environment Minister John Young and External Relations Minister Ian Gorst said that they had recently been made aware of the issues concerning
bivalve mollusc shellfish exports.
Senator Gorst said that it was an ‘evolving situation’ and that ‘thankfully’ Jersey exporters had so far been treated with leniency on the matter.
A government spokesperson said: ‘The import of fishery products into the EU from the UK and Jersey, as third countries, is controlled under a broad range of legislation that covers fisheries, animal and environmental health.
‘The Government of Jersey are working with local businesses to understand these requirements and we continue to export our fishery products into France and other European markets at this time.’
