SOUTHEND Coastguard were called out to reports of "suspicious activity" on the coastal mud flats.
The coastguard received the call at 7.42pm to attend reports of suspicious activity in the distance on the mudflats.
Upon arrival at a boat that was aground near the Westcliff Bastion, persons were seen throwing objects overboard reported by one of the RNLI Southend Lifeboat crew members who was passing the area.
A spokesman said: "Coastguard officers proceeded to scene and met up with our RNLI colleague and, after some observations, it appeared that there were two persons on the mudflats at low water with an inflatable rib with what appeared to be various oyster nets/baskets scattered around them.
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"The rib and two persons seen appeared to match a recent incident the coastguard were called out to the other month off of the Southchurch shoreline, at high water at night, where we spoke with the persons fishing for oysters who produced paper work for their activity.
"A quick call to one of our environmental officers at Southend Council confirmed that there are a number of registered oyster pickers with the council who work in these areas at high and low water, so coastguard officers passed on our observations and informed Dover MRCC.
"Dover MRCC were then satisfied with our confirmation and stood down the team. So false alarm with good intent."
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