PROGRESS is being made to get the quality of seawater around Jersey tested, which could provide a significant boost to the Island’s shellfish industry, the Environment Minister has said.
From 1 January 2021, Jersey was classed as a third country by the EU for exports into the union, which meant that shellfish such as oysters, mussels or whelks had to come from ‘class A’ waters or cleaned (or ‘depurated’) before export.
Although Jersey’s waters were considered high quality before that date – and what constitutes ‘Jersey waters’ and ‘French waters’ is, ultimately, just a line on a chart – Brexit brought a host of new complications for local fishermen.
However, Environment Minister Steve Luce has said that progress had been made in getting Jersey waters tested and classified, something that was not required before Brexit.
This would particularly allow whelk, scallop and other bivalve fishers to export to France. Oysters destined for the EU are already depurated in Jersey.
Deputy Luce said: “We have tried, and I think we have succeeded, in saying to the French that this is a joint fishery which is used by both French and Jersey boats, and if that area of water is unclassified, then that applies to all boats.
“I think the French may have had a lightbulb moment and realised that they need to do something. We have put forward a proposal about how we could work together with them to get the water tested, and receive the classification as a joint fishery, and I’d like to think that is going to bear some fruit.”
Head of Marine Resources Francis Binney added: “We would commission the testing, probably using a French laboratory but asking the UK government’s science agency to analyse the data to give us an independent A, B or C rating.
“The standardised testing takes place over three months. We know our oysters can go into the EU because they are graded already, so this is whether we can get wild shellfish in as well.
“However, they need somewhere to go, which is why we have prioritised getting an inspection post opened in Granville, which is supported by fishers there too.”
Jersey Oyster owner Chris Le Masurier said water testing around one of his concessions off the southeast of Jersey had proved that the water was class A quality.
He said: “The irony is that 140 Jersey-licensed French boats can fish for bivalve molluscs in our unclassified territorial waters, and then land them back in France as if they were class A.
“The French Government did write to all the licensed French boats to say that this wasn’t allowed but added that they could carry on as they were until a solution could be found.
“Our government’s inconsistencies are making us look stupid. Their own tests show our water is top quality, but the classification has not changed. They need to show some backbone and act.”
