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SECTION XIV
PUBLIC HEALTH (SHELLFISH) REGULATIONS, 1934 & 1948
The investigation into the pollution of the waters of the River Roach and its associated
creeks and water courses was continued in the early part of the year, and confirmed a considerable
degree of pollution.
In view of these findings, letters were sent in March to all the oyster producers in the area
informing them of the unsatisfactory sanitary quality of oysters collected from beds operated by
them, and requesting them to clean or sterilise all shellfish prior to sale for human consumption.
During the same period, representations were made to the Authority by various bodies suggesting
that in the same area, contamination of the waters by metals was also taking place.
If metallic pollutants were in fact found to be present, these could not be removed by the
present accepted scheduled cleansing methods, and then a' "Prohibition Order" made under the
Regulations would be necessary.
The assistance of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Fisheries Laboratory at
Burnham on Crouch was enlisted. They subsequently produced evidence that metallic contamination
of shellfish obtained from the area in question was in no way exceptional.
Having established as was previously considered to be the case, that the contamination was
bacterial and that such contamination could be removed by approved cleaning methods, the
necessary steps were taken to obtain an Order under the "Public Health (Shellfish) Regulations"
making the area a 'prescribed area'.
Notices of the intention to make the order were served on all interested parties and also
published in three local papers at the end of October.
No representations were received within the 21 days allowed, and the Court of Common
Council made the order on the 14th December, 1972, which is to come into operation on the 18th
January, 1973.
OYSTER INDUSTRY
The making of an order under the Public Health (Shellfish) Regulations has already been
referred to.
The "prescribed area" does in fact include all the waters within the Port Health Authority's
jurisdiction used by the various oyster producers.
The industry centred on the River Roach area continued throughout the year but only to a
limited extent.
A large quantity of seed oysters imported from Portugal the previous year and relaid in the
waters of the River Roach to mature could not be exported to France as intended in the absence of
"Sanitary Certificates", which could not be issued due to the pollution of the beds.
It was intended that about 450 tons remaining in the Roach be lifted and relaid in the River
Crouch for self cleansing, but this became a commercially impossible operation when it was found
that at least half had died. By the end of the year it was estimated that about 90% of those remaining
had reached the same fate.
The French company interested in this project, by arrangement with one of the local producers,
did export to France three smalkconsignments totalling 20 tons during the month of April.
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