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SECTION XIV
PUBLIC HEALTH (SHELLFISH) REGULATIONS, 1934 and 1948
As reported in 1970 a bacteriological survey of water and shellfish was considered desirable
in some parts of the port health district not already covered by existing regulations, or by the
two orders which came into operation on the 1st June, 1936, and the 2nd September, 1957.
Investigation of the River Roach area indicated possible pollution of the oyster layings
which were being worked by five different producers, and this was the area considered to be
worthy of further investigation.
The survey extended from the port health limit on the River Roach up stream to Barton Hall
Creek and included parts of the Middleway, Potton Creek, Paglesham Pool and Barling Creek.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Fisheries Laboratory at Burnham-on-Crouch
who had all the necessary equipment for sampling and laboratory investigation kindly agreed to
assist the authority in this survey which was commenced on the 18th May, 1971.
During the period from May until December, five surveys were carried out, and these included
obtaining samples of oysters and waters which were then examined and reported on by the Fisheries
Laboratory at Burnham.
The result of the survey confirmed that considerable pollution existed both in the waters of
the River Roach and its tributaries, and as to be expected, also in the oysters.
The major source of pollution in the area is the Stambridge Sewage Works, the outfall from
which discharges by way of Barton Hall Creek into the River Roach at a point just upstream of
the first of the oyster layings. As was expected, the level of pollution was found to be greatest
in the River Roach adjacent to Stambridge and decreased seawards, but considerable pollution
existed at certain states of the tides downstream to the port health authority seaward limit.
Major improvement works are already in hand at the Stambridge Sewage Works and when the
extent of these improvements is known and their effect on the effluent has been investigated,
further consideration will be given to this problem. Should the improvement works include chlorination
of the effluent, the quality of the waters of the River Roach could be considerably improved.
Oyster Industry
The investigation into the pollution of the oyster layings has already been referred to.
The cultivation of oysters for the home market continued as in recent years, and whilst the
area concerned is not at present subject to control by any order under the Shellfish Regulations,
the various merchants either cleanse the shellfish before selling to wholesalers or dispose of
them to merchants who have their own cleansing facilities.
No report has been received during the year of any sickness having occurred which could
have been associated with the consumption of oysters collected from oyster layings within the
Authority's jurisdiction.
At the end of April, a French company imported some 700 tons of seed oysters from Portugal
and relaid them in the waters of the River Roach to mature. In September, they requested Sanitary
Certificates to enable them to export them to France. At the material time the bacteriological
sampling survey was in progress and in view of the results then known their request for certificates
was refused.
It then became necessary for the oysters to be lifted from the River Roach and to be relaid
in the River Crouch for self purification.
As the waters of the River Crouch are not within this Authority's jurisdiction, the controls
relating to cleansing, exportation and the issue of Sanitary Certificates are the responsibility of
Burnham U.D.C. Up to the end of the year it was estimated that 450 tons of these oysters still
remained in the layings of the River Roach, but it is understood that they will in time all be removed
for relaying in the River Crouch for cleansing before being exported to France.
Cockle Industry
This industry at Leigh-on-Sea continued during the year and produced no serious problems.
Routine visits were made to the various sheds from time to time, to ensure that the Authority's
requirements as to sterilisation under the 1936 Order were being complied with.
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