Oh, Suddenly It’s A Concern After All?

Richard Eves, who runs Leigh Fishermen’s Co-operative in old Leigh High Street, was caught with 400 untreated oysters in a fridge at his shop when it was visited by Southend Council health officers.

They must have fought their way through all the Chinese oyster gatherers to get to his shop…

The shellfish, which had been harvested on the Westcliff foreshore two days before, had not gone through the purification process to remove the deadly viruses and bacteria which can infest them.

If eaten, untreated oysters can pass on diseases such as Norovirus and even cause septicaemia in people with vulnerable immune systems.

Well, indeed. That was one of the reasons people were suggesting the council might like to do something about the ‘Asians’ that were foraging…

Mr Eves received a summons to appear in Southend Magistrates’ Court, accused of stockpiling oysters which were not fit for public consumption.

But the fisherman, who has 12 years of experience, said he had no intention of selling the shellfish and claimed he was being unfairly targeted.

He’s a settled white Anglo-Saxon ratepayer who speaks English. Of course he’s being targeted!

Far too much hassle to go after anyone else…