Fisherman found with 400 illegal oysters

10:02am Monday 24th September 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Stephen Hackwell

Fisherman found with 400 illegal oysters Fisherman found with 400 illegal oysters

A FISHERMAN has been taken to court for stockpiling illegal oysters.

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.

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.

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 was ordered to pay for the destruction of the oysters.

 

 

Comments (16)

10:23am Mon 24 Sep 12

JuliaM says...

Gosh, I wonder when the same team will swoop on the Chinese oyster pickers the 'Echo' has been reporting on recently..?

*crickets*
Gosh, I wonder when the same team will swoop on the Chinese oyster pickers the 'Echo' has been reporting on recently..? *crickets* JuliaM

10:24am Mon 24 Sep 12

DogsMessInLeigh says...

Swift action by the council,Sounded like an open and shut case.
Swift action by the council,Sounded like an open and shut case. DogsMessInLeigh

10:34am Mon 24 Sep 12

Druggie Scumbag says...

Perhaps he harvested them towards the end of August and was waiting for September when they'd be safe to eat.
Perhaps he harvested them towards the end of August and was waiting for September when they'd be safe to eat. Druggie Scumbag

10:54am Mon 24 Sep 12

pendulum says...

I have petrol in my garage, it doesn't mean I'm going to make petrol bombs! I'll reserve judgment on this guy unless it is shown he was selling them like that.
Mere possession of oysters does not seem like it should be a crime to me...
I have petrol in my garage, it doesn't mean I'm going to make petrol bombs! I'll reserve judgment on this guy unless it is shown he was selling them like that. Mere possession of oysters does not seem like it should be a crime to me... pendulum

11:02am Mon 24 Sep 12

Brunning999 says...

Pathetic comments the reality is simple he sells plenty of other fish from those premises, and cross contamination of any deadly virus or bacteria is a real issue.
It also gives an indication of his health and hygiene standards within those food storage areas.

Personally speaking I have purchased good fish from there on a regular basis now my health is more important so I will shop further along at te other sheds.
Pathetic comments the reality is simple he sells plenty of other fish from those premises, and cross contamination of any deadly virus or bacteria is a real issue. It also gives an indication of his health and hygiene standards within those food storage areas. Personally speaking I have purchased good fish from there on a regular basis now my health is more important so I will shop further along at te other sheds. Brunning999

11:17am Mon 24 Sep 12

ccd says...

If he wasn't going to sell them, why were they in a fridge?
If he wasn't going to sell them, why were they in a fridge? ccd

11:19am Mon 24 Sep 12

claysman says...

something fishey going on here
something fishey going on here claysman

11:32am Mon 24 Sep 12

mikepaterson says...

Hoarding Oysters is obviously rather shellfish don't you think?
Hoarding Oysters is obviously rather shellfish don't you think? mikepaterson

11:33am Mon 24 Sep 12

Biker One says...

were the illegall oysters deported?
were the illegall oysters deported? Biker One

2:21pm Mon 24 Sep 12

j-w says...

no, they were placed in shelltered accommodation.
no, they were placed in shelltered accommodation. j-w

2:36pm Mon 24 Sep 12

DogsMessInLeigh says...

An occasional friend ate a bad oyster once..she felt all clammy and was sick in a bucket.
An occasional friend ate a bad oyster once..she felt all clammy and was sick in a bucket. DogsMessInLeigh

4:11pm Mon 24 Sep 12

SpaffSpiff84 says...

But the chinese cockle pickers taking every cockle from the beaches are fine? give me a break, stop going after the easy targets and do your flippin jobs
But the chinese cockle pickers taking every cockle from the beaches are fine? give me a break, stop going after the easy targets and do your flippin jobs SpaffSpiff84

4:34pm Tue 25 Sep 12

Nebs says...

SpaffSpiff84 wrote:
But the chinese cockle pickers taking every cockle from the beaches are fine? give me a break, stop going after the easy targets and do your flippin jobs
I'm surprised that the Leigh fishermen haven't set up a covert operation to establish where these oysters are going.
[quote][p][bold]SpaffSpiff84[/bold] wrote: But the chinese cockle pickers taking every cockle from the beaches are fine? give me a break, stop going after the easy targets and do your flippin jobs[/p][/quote]I'm surprised that the Leigh fishermen haven't set up a covert operation to establish where these oysters are going. Nebs

6:47pm Tue 25 Sep 12

j-w says...

Perhaps they already know nebs!
Perhaps they already know nebs! j-w

10:13pm Tue 25 Sep 12

DogsMessInLeigh says...

i went there today...and theres a sign up on the place on one of the blackboards outside advertising local ILLEGAL oysters...50p each.
i went there today...and theres a sign up on the place on one of the blackboards outside advertising local ILLEGAL oysters...50p each. DogsMessInLeigh

6:51pm Sat 20 Oct 12

sav25 says...

Bet he got a bit 'clammy' when he got that letter!
Bet he got a bit 'clammy' when he got that letter! sav25

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