THE Thames Estuary is famous for its oysters and shellfish. And with the annual Whitebait Festival, set to take place this month, we’ve decided to bring you a bumper catch of nostalgic fishing-themed photos.
Our gallery shows fishermen hard at work oyster and cockle fishing in Leigh and Southend during the 1970s and 1980s.
It also features photos of Southenders enjoying their fair share of oysters.
Over the years Essex’s native oyster population has sadly declined rapidly due to historic over-harvesting, disease, competition from invasive species and predators.
Nevertheless, oysters in particular, remain a popular draw across Southend and Leigh for seafood lovers.
The annual Southend Whitebait Festival is scheduled to take place on Wednesday September 16 and will include the famous ‘blessing of the catch’ service on the front.
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