Mussel and cockle producers in Wales have been told they can no longer export to the European Union due to water quality standards. Most Welsh waters are classified as Grade B, meaning shellfish must be purified before export, but the UK lacks sufficient purification facilities. Before Brexit, produce was sent to the EU for purification and distribution.
James Wilson of Deep Dock, a mussel producer on the Menai Strait, has been exporting live mussels to the EU since the 1990s. Together with other local firms, they supply around 7,000 tonnes of mussels annually, worth approximately £8 million. Wilson expressed dismay, stating, 'People's lives are being wrecked and there doesn't seem to be any reason for it.' He warned that if exports cannot resume, 'that's the end of the industry.'
The Shellfish Association of Great Britain noted uncertainty about whether Grade B produce meets EU requirements, contrary to previous UK government advice. Sarah Horsfall from the association said, 'It would be disastrous for the aquaculture industry if we don't re-establish this trade.' The association is working with Defra and EU counterparts to find a solution.
Welsh environment minister Lesley Griffiths called for an 'urgent meeting' with UK fisheries secretary George Eustice, stating, 'Clearly something has gone very wrong.' She added that warnings had been issued for four years. A Defra spokesman said live bivalve molluscs can still be exported if harvested from Class A waters or properly cleaned, and that the UK will continue to raise the issue with the EU.
