Dredging for shellfish off the SSI

This crew have a raft and are sucking up the shellfish and transferring their booty to the boat using a crane.


Dawlish Warren http://www.dawlishwarren.co.uk/ is an internationally acclaimed Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Ramsar Site, because of the large numbers of birds which live and visit the area. The Exe Estuary is a little studied eco system. The mussels have been mined for years. 40foot lorries regularly loaded up with tons and tonnes of mussels, bound for France.

MAFFS designated the shellfish in the River Exe unfit for human consumption, due to the presence of botulism. To make them fit, The River Exe Shellfish Company bombarded their homegrown oysters with ultra-violet. http://www.shellfish.org.uk/biog_david_jarrad.htm. DEFRA is the new name for MAFFS and they administrate the regulations about harvesting shellfish. The River Exe is listed as OK. http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/water/water-quality/shellfish-directive/ These health regulations probably don't apply in France.

BTW During the 2011 summer, 20 orientals would come down to the estuary to harvest cockles by hand. Other people with vans were doing the same.

I wish someone would do a scientific study to find out what the effect of taking the shellfish might be... or maybe they have??? Please let me know.