Oyster beds hit by herpes virus

The herpes virus that has destroyed millions of oysters in France has led to increased demand for "seed" oysters from French producers.

Billy Pinney, of Pinney's of Orford, told BBC News that they were getting the repercussions of it "because the French are taking all the seed from over here."

"We're having a devil of a job getting enough stock to re-seed our beds," he said.

Pinney's, as many other oyster farmers do not produce the seed oysters themselves, so rely on supplies from hatcheries elsewhere.

“Because of the disease, you can't import them from France, so you're left with one British hatchery and they can't meet demand,” he told the news source

"We're looking at a situation where this time next year we may be out of oysters," he added

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has introduced a containment zone off the coast at Whitstable, Kent which is the only place in Britain where the virus has been found.