Oyster prices rise by a third
Stocks of French oysters have been decimated by the OsVH-1 Oyster Herpesvirus, which is also known in France as ‘La Mortality’.
The disease destroyed nearly 80 per cent of the country’s ‘young stock’ of oysters last year. Overall production fell from 130,000 tonnes in 2009 to 80,000 tonnes last year.
The shortage has forced French suppliers and caterers to “plunder” Britain’s stocks, experts say.
The increase in demand has pushed the price of British oysters up by around 30 per cent. Rock oysters in the UK have risen to between 40 pence and 65 pence each over the last year while ‘native’ oysters cost up to £1.25 each, according to the Fish2fork website.
The price rise is good news for fishermen but bad news for consumers.
