The London Port Health Authority district encompasses
approximately 775 square kilometres of estuarial waters
including the Rivers Roach and Crouch. Within these areas there are
many shellfish layings which are commercially harvested. Recent
figures indicate that approximately 10,000 tonnes per annum
are harvested.
The London Port Health Authority monitors the harvesting of the
cockles, oysters, mussels and other bivalve molluscs, to ensure
that they meet the appropriate standards for processing in order to
prevent illness to consumers. Shellfish Movement Documents are
issued upon request to commercial fishermen meeting the relevant
standards to enable them to transport their catch to processing
plants. A Permanent Transportation Authorisation is required
for gatherers of Shellfish in the London Port Health Authority
District. You can download the PDF application form below
which should be completed and returned to the Denton
Office at the earliest opportunity in order that the
authorisation can be issued quickly.
Click here for the Denton Office address
Download the PTA application Form (87kb)
The London Port Health Authority acts as the co-ordinator for
Local Action Groups ( LAGs ) which were set up in 2006 under
measures introduced by the Food Standards Agency for the Long
Term Classification of Designated Shellfish Harvesting Areas. There
are 3 LAGs in operation within the London Port Health Authority
area:
LAG1 - River Roach and River Crouch (South Side)
LAG2 - River Thames North Side
LAG3 - River Thames South Side
Each Group has a Local Action Plan that is brought into
operation when trigger levels for contamination are exceeded. There
are three tiers of response depending on the levels of the micro
organism E-coli found in water monitoring samples. A Tier 1
response triggers a minor investigation whereas a Tier 3
investigation would be much more extensive and could result in
closure of the shellfish harvesting area in question.
Information is shared by the Action Group members mainly by
email. If you require further information please
contact our Denton office.
Samples of shellfish are obtained from the layings using the
Authority's launches in order to establish the extent of
pollution and to enable the classification of the layings under UK
and EU legislation. The Authority also undertakes sampling of
Shellfish in the River Swale on a contractual basis for Swale
Borough Council. Further information regarding shellfish harvesting
restrictions in force in the Thames Estuary are available on the
Food Standards Agency (FSA)
website. Additional information can also be found
on the Centre
for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science Centre
(CEFAS) website and also by contacting the
Kent and Essex Sea Fisheries Committee on +44 (01206) 303261 or
in writing to Kent & Essex Sea Fisheries Committee, The Sail
Loft, Shipyard Estate, Brightlingsea, Essex, CO7 OAR.
Chinese Mitten Crabs
These crabs are now established in the River Thames and can
cause damage to river banks. The Natural History Museum and the
Linnean Society of London is organising a symposium to discuss the
possibility of the commercial exploitation of the Thames Chinese
mitten crabs in an attempt to control their numbers.
A copy of the press release issued by the Linnean Society is
available on the
Linnean Society website.