Proposed mussel fishery in the Stour

I'm all for the mussel beds. Besides the obvious economic/jobs benefits, they have a very positive impact on the health of the local waters as natural cleaners.

I'd like to see more thought on the specific locations though.... for me, the large ones off Erwarton Ness and Harkstead could easily be located in Holbrook bay, and have much less impact on, what are as Roger points out, popular anchorages.

But overall, I'd like personally to encourage, not object. If we as a sailing community object to everything, soon enough our voices will lose their impact.

It would be worth understanding what kind of Mussels they are proposing as well... many of the more recent beds in the last couple of decades are 'Pacifics'*, which are a foreign variety... not a lot of the native British mussels grown anywhere anymore.

* Established by accident, after a ship bringing them in during the last 1900's started to founder and dumped their cargo overboard off the French coast, and it was discovered that they prosper in Northern European waters and grow bigger and faster than native varieties, that the Victorians had decimated through industrial harvesting anyway.
 
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We anchor regularly near Erwarton point and it's very popular. We're not retired BTW!
Also, the area East of Erwarton is where people sail when tacking up or down the river.
 
Are there different ways of cultivating molluscs? I ask because in Normandy, such as St Vaast, they cultivate oysters in the intertidal zone, which incidentally avoids the sailing and anchoring areas.
 
Phoenix of Hamble said:
... It would be worth understanding what kind of Mussels they are proposing as well... many of the more recent beds in the last couple of decades are 'Pacifics'*, which are a foreign variety... not a lot of the native British mussels grown anywhere anymore.

* Established by accident, after a ship bringing them in during the last 1900's started to founder and dumped their cargo overboard off the French coast, and it was discovered that they prosper in Northern European waters and grow bigger and faster than native varieties, that the Victorians had decimated through industrial harvesting anyway.
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Are you sure of that, and can you give a reference? I am aware that Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas, introduced to the UK in 1926) are cultivated in European waters, being faster growing I believe than the native UK oyster (Ostra edulis). But I thought that UK commercial mussel operations involve our common (blue) mussel, Mytilus edulis.

PS The link given in the OP takes you to a page giving further reference links, including one to the management plan of the proposed fishery. That refers to "... a Trial Fishery for Blue mussel Mytilus edulis (only)".

johnalison said:
Are there different ways of cultivating molluscs? I ask because in Normandy, such as St Vaast, they cultivate oysters in the intertidal zone, which incidentally avoids the sailing and anchoring areas.
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Worldwide mussel culture techniques include pilings (Fr. bouchot), raft, rope and bottom (see e.g. http://www.fao.org/docrep/field/003/ab737e/AB737E04.htm).

PS The management plan (see PS above) says that "Cultivation will be by way of subtidal bottom lays only. No structures will be required." (i.e. seed mussels will be transferred from other East Coast locations to the beds which will be later harvested by dredging, as I understand it.)
 
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Leighb said:
I don't know if other East Coasters have heard about this? It seems to me that as all the beds have to be marked, presumably at the corners, it will result in a lot of unlit possibly not that visible buoys in the Stour. Even if clearly visible it will make beating up the river a bit trickier.

I believe HASA (Harwich Area sailing Association) are aware, let us hope they can stop/modify the proposal.

http://www.qualitysolicitors.com/pa...ion-the-river-stour-mussel-fishery-order-2015
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I don't like people coming to the Stour from elsewhere and claiming "sole" rights. However I don't know what is involved in harvesting mussels and I don't know how it would affect me. I used to be on a coaster that dredged the Stour and took the spoil to Flushing and the local didn't protest about that so maybe there isn't enough people along the Stour that care what happens.
 
A reply from Gus Lewis @ The RYA

Dear Sailorman

Thank you for your email.

We are aware of the proposals and we will be making appropriate submissions to DEFRA and to the promoter! We will also be writing to the local MPs whose constituencies abut the river.

Our regional volunteers will be providing us with supporting evidence but if you yourself have any evidence as to the extent of recreational boating activity in these locations then that would also be of great assistance.

With kind regards.

Gus

Gus Lewis
Head of Legal & Government Affairs
Royal Yachting Association
T: 023 8060 4220 | E: gus.lewis@rya.org.uk
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RYA House, Ensign Way, Hamble, Southampton, Hampshire, SO31 4YA
www.rya.org.uk T: 023 8060 4100 F: 023 8060 4299


 
toyboy said:
I don't like people coming to the Stour from elsewhere and claiming "sole" rights. However I don't know what is involved in harvesting mussels and I don't know how it would affect me. I used to be on a coaster that dredged the Stour and took the spoil to Flushing and the local didn't protest about that so maybe there isn't enough people along the Stour that care what happens.
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Maybe some of the NIMBY's aren't actually local anyway. Like those who have a cottage in Southwold and want the town kept "just like it is" for their ten weekends a year. Stuff the real locals who need real jobs.
 
sailorman said:
Its a mussel bed ,wont anchoring damage them like those poor Seahorses darn sarf ???
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I don't know, that's why I asked the question. There doesn't seem to be anything in the draft order which bans anchoring. The management plan has a veiled reference to "enforcement of any intereference with the mussel stocks", but goes on to suggest poaching as the foremost concern.
 
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