KENT NEWS: An outbreak of a deadly shellfish virus has hit Kent’s shores on the weekend that Whitstable hosts its annual oyster festival.
Thousands of visitors flock to the coastal town every summer to enjoy the sights and sounds of the popular event, but a herpes epidemic that is killing off the stars of the show has cast a dark cloud over this year’s festivities.
Fish health inspectors from the Centre of Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) inspected a shellfish farm in Whitstable last week following reports of high levels of mortality in Pacific rock oysters.
Samples taken from the site were confirmed as positive for herpesvirus – marking the first time the disease has reached the UK – and containment areas have now been declared in the Swale, Thames and north Kent coast.
This means fisherman cannot land or transport the delicacy without permission from the Fish Health Inspectorate.
There are no implications for human health.
Seasalter Shellfish managing director John Bayes – who raised the alarm to Cefas – said the outbreak was yet another blow to an industry that is already suffering.
He added: “The fact the oysters are dying is very serious indeed because there’s already a massive mortality rate among them and a shortage worldwide.
“Most of Ireland and France have been affected by the virus to the point where total productivity is down to about 10 or 20 per cent of what it used to be.
“We had high hopes of making up some of the deficit this year, but that doesn’t look likely any more given what has just happened.”
The origins of the Whitstable Oyster Festival can be traced back to Norman times, but the event in its current format has only been around since the 1980s.
About 25,000 people are expected to attend this year’s festival, which starts today and runs until Friday.
It features a wide range of shows, musical performances, family activities and art exhibitions as well as the usual seafood attractions.
But because traditional Whitstable oysters do not come into season until September, organisers rely mostly on rock oysters – those dying from the virus – to sell to the thousands of visitors who join in the celebration.
However, a Canterbury City Council spokesman said the authority did not anticipate the outbreak having any impact on the festival.
He added: “At the moment only one bed at Seasalter is affected and harvesting is continuing elsewhere.
“If necessary, businesses will also go to other oyster production areas in the UK, and in fact they will most likely have already secured the stock they need and begun the purification process.”
The Pacific rock oyster is the most important species of oyster cultivated in the UK, both in terms of volume and value, with an annual production of more than 1,100 tonnes.
According to Cefas it is important the disease – which occurs when water temperatures exceed 16C – is contained to prevent its spread to other oyster-growing areas in Britain.
Mr Bayes is all too familiar with the problems sick oysters can cause to businesses like Seasalter Shellfish.
In 2000, the firm faced financial ruin when it was forced to close its oyster beds following the discovery of a bug that caused sickness and diarrhoea in humans.
Further problems materialised in early 2008, when Whitstable’s entire clam population died.
However, Mr Bayes agreed with the council that he did not think the herpes virus would have an impact on the festival, but only because he doubted how many oysters sold are actually caught off the Kent coast.
He said: “Whitstable was once famous for its oysters when there were a lot here, but it’s been a long time since any were seriously produced here because they can’t be sustained in the long term.
“Most of the oysters sold at the festival actually come from open-sea areas or are imported from places like Ireland and the Channel Islands.
“It’s all a bit of a sham really.”
POSTED: 24/07/2010 09:00:00
Bookmark with:
Email to a friend: