Plaid Cymru Member of Parliament for Dwyfor Meirionnydd Liz Saville Roberts, has accused the UK government of overseeing the destruction of the Welsh shellfish industry, having initially assured businesses that the EU export ban on produce would be lifted. 

Speaking during an Urgent Question in Parliament, Mrs Saville Roberts said that the UK government’s failure to negotiate an agreement with the EU on shellfish exports was further proof that Wales needs a seat at the table when it comes to negotiating. 

The Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP cited Gwynedd shellfish business, Bangor Mussel Producers as a local example of a successful shellfish exporter now unable to trade with their export market.  

Bangor Mussel Producers, harvests around 8-10,000 tonnes of live mussels a year, of which around 98% are exported, mostly to EU countries. They employ over 20 staff and operate 4 boats from Bangor to farm mussel beds in the area of the Menai Strait.

Exports of fresh fish and seafood have been severely disrupted by new border controls, and extra paperwork has made it more difficult to deliver fresh produce to mainland Europe before it goes off.

The EU has now placed an indefinite ban on the sale of live bivalve molluscs – mussels, oysters, clams, cockles and scallops – to its member states, unless they go through a purification process first.

Since January 1, UK firms have only been able to send pre-purified, ready-to-eat shellfish, accompanied by an export health certificate. Prior to leaving the EU, they could be purified after they reached their destination.

Questioning the Minister, Liz Saville Roberts MP said: “Despite the EU’s well documented position on third country exports, the Government breezily assured our shellfish industry that the ban would be lifted. We now know that that is not the case.

“Agriculture and fishing are devolved; negotiating trade deals is not. It is this Government’s responsibility that the Welsh shellfish industry is now unable to export to Europe, and further proof – if any were needed – that Wales needs a seat at the table when it comes to negotiating.

“Will the Government now guarantee to cover the costs of all necessary export facilities for Welsh businesses such as Bangor Mussel Producers in Gwynedd, which are presently unable to trade with their export market?

Liz Saville Roberts MP added: “It is no exaggeration to say that the UK Government is destroying the Welsh shellfish industry.’ 

“Until January, 90% of shellfish from Wales was exported to the EU – a market that has been shut down over night.

“Businesses across Wales were given assurances by the UK Government that the ban would be lifted.

“It is their duty now to guarantee that no business suffers due to their political decisions.”    

Photo: WJ Jones