§ Sir Peter Millsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current situation regarding the outbreak of Bonamia; what measures he proposes to take; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerBonamia has caused very heavy mortalities in French and Dutch oyster beds in recent years and the discovery of the disease in this country is a very serious development. The outbreak was first detected in the River Fal in Cornwall and my fisheries scientists have since sought to determine the extent of the disease. Their investigations indicate that Bonamia is also present in the Helford River, Cornwall and West Mersea, Essex. They propose to conduct further tests in the known infected areas.
I have reviewed my current legislative powers to see whether the existing controls might be improved. As a result, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have made the Molluscan Shellfish (Control of Deposit) (Variation) Order 1983. This provides for the isolation of those shellfish beds in Cornwall and Essex where Bonamia has been found.
I have also decided to take this opportunity to separate the two important oyster fisheries in Poole harbour and the Solent although no evidence of Bonamia has been reported from either fishery.