Southend Council ‘neglecting its ancient duty to protect our oysters’ (From Southend Standard)
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Southend Council ‘neglecting its ancient duty to protect our oysters’
4:00pm Tuesday 4th September 2012 in News
Some of the people taking oysters from Southend beaches
SOUTHEND Council is neglecting an ancient duty to protect the town’s fishermen by allowing gangs to strip the foreshore of shellfish, according to councillors.
A cross-party coalition has called for urgent talks on the alleged commercial harvesting of oysters from Leigh to Shoebury .
The move comes after Liberal Democrat councillor Peter Wexham unearthed documents, dating back to 1220, which he believes demonstrate the council has a duty to defend local fishermen. He said: “The council is neglecting its duty to maintain the land in a sustainable way for the fishing industry, and for the habitat of the birds and nature.”
Last month, the Echo took photographs of Asian oyster pickers working Chalkwell beach in an apparently organised operation. Independent councillor Martin Terry and Labour’s David Norman have now joined Mr Wexham in demanding the issue is discussed at a council meeting on September 20.
Mr Wexham believes he has uncovered case law which proves Rob Tinlin , the council’s chief executive, has the power to prevent commercial harvesting by anyone other than local fishermen.
Mr Tinlin said: “While we are aware of this information, we have been monitoring and reviewing the position on the foreshore and have alerted all the relevant bodies with current legislative interests and controls on environmental and health matters, so they can take action if appropriate.
“We will continue to monitor the situation and all relevant channels for any action needed. This is a complex issue with a long history.
“It will be discussed in detail on September 20, and the cross-party committee will then make recommendations on the matter.”
Comments(19)
whataday
says...
5:36pm Tue 4 Sep 12
Thirdly they are probably living here illegally and are at the mercy of organised crime gangs sending them out doing this. Catch the real criminals behind this.
southendshrimper
says...
6:17pm Tue 4 Sep 12
V_is_back
says...
6:54pm Tue 4 Sep 12
whataday wrote:This was a party political broadcast on behalf of the British National Party, sponsored by the Daily Mail.
Southend Council should act and stop this illegal harvesting immediately. I bet you wouldn't be allowed to get away with this in their country. Firstly, why should the nation's fishermen suffer due to quotas etc when Southend allowing this to go on. Secondly what protection is there to the general public - how do they know if they are going to eat reliably prepared oysters or be poisoned by eating unreliably prepared ones collected by these people.
Thirdly they are probably living here illegally and are at the mercy of organised crime gangs sending them out doing this. Catch the real criminals behind this.
Brunning999
says...
7:00pm Tue 4 Sep 12
I can imagine what would happen in China if hundreds of English people started doing the same there.
reptile
says...
7:16pm Tue 4 Sep 12
Carlos Spicy Weiner
says...
8:43pm Tue 4 Sep 12
Brunning999 wrote:I saw more people who didn't look Chinese collecting oysters yesterday than I did Chinese. And that's just what they look like doesn't confirm where they are from.
This is the result of a failed immigration integration policy.
I can imagine what would happen in China if hundreds of English people started doing the same there.
APR
says...
9:25pm Tue 4 Sep 12
abd123
says...
9:29pm Tue 4 Sep 12
Nebs
says...
9:36pm Tue 4 Sep 12
perini
says...
10:26pm Tue 4 Sep 12
abd123 wrote:There are signs up by the Fishermans Cooperative and the Foreshore Office in Leigh Old Town stating that it IS illegal for non-licensed persons to collect shellfish and a variety of other things from the foreshore!!
It has been well established that this is not illegal. There is no action anybody can or needs to take. If there was a health risk where they go it hasn't shown up.
Seasider90
says...
11:39pm Tue 4 Sep 12
Midani
says...
7:16am Wed 5 Sep 12
mouthend on trout
says...
9:27am Wed 5 Sep 12
A.Winnie
says...
1:42pm Wed 5 Sep 12
APR
says...
5:54pm Wed 5 Sep 12
mouthend on trout wrote:If you don't know what I meant, there's no point in trying to explain.
ATTENTION... People of Southend fail to stop council acting like NAZIS.... A few people picking up oysters? if someone could point out where exactly the problem is?..... and @ APR.. Where do you think shellfish come from then Einstein if its not from the sea?
pembury53
says...
7:06pm Wed 5 Sep 12
APR wrote:Southend council should cut a deal with the pickers..... since there are so many they could double up as life guards..... given the ever increasing number of idiots attempting to drown themselves on a seemingly daily basis, a dozen oysters for each life saved seems reasonable ?
mouthend on trout wrote:If you don't know what I meant, there's no point in trying to explain.
ATTENTION... People of Southend fail to stop council acting like NAZIS.... A few people picking up oysters? if someone could point out where exactly the problem is?..... and @ APR.. Where do you think shellfish come from then Einstein if its not from the sea?
perini
says...
8:10am Thu 6 Sep 12
mouthend on trout wrote:Muppet - unless oysters especially are harvested in a special way they are toxic which is why licenses are granted to individuals who know how to do it safely. Also, these people are chucking them on the mud and leaving the shells there - tantamount to leaving razor blades lying around. It's also illegal to take seafood from the foreshore unless you have licenses - cockles, mussels, oysters and whelks in particular. Oyster farmers also track where their ctach goes - illegal gatherers could sell to any restaurant and possibly kill people before any connection is made. So its not being a spoilsport its called common sense and safety
ATTENTION... People of Southend fail to stop council acting like NAZIS.... A few people picking up oysters? if someone could point out where exactly the problem is?..... and @ APR.. Where do you think shellfish come from then Einstein if its not from the sea?
Alec Cikes
says...
12:43am Fri 7 Sep 12
The Southend Borough Council should act and put a stop to this illegal trading. If there is an old act from the 1200's, endeavour to put this back into place.
Think also green, saving the wild life in Southend, birds who survive on such foods from our shores.
Broadwaywatch says...
4:27pm Tue 4 Sep 12
Get your feet muddy and see first hand for yourselves. Because I am begining to sense by the time SBC gets around to doing something there will not be any oysters left. Just shells to cut open bathers feet. Less talk more action please.
Councilor Wexham I recall brought it to the attention of the Press and his fellow councilors weeks ago.