Starting a shellfish farm

Mussels, oysters and clams can be farmed in UK coastal waters.

Picking where to farm

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Food Standards Agency grades each shellfish harvesting area A, B or C. The grade depends on how much E. coli turns up in samples of shellfish flesh. What has to happen to the shellfish before anyone eats them depends on that grade. The agency also monitors the areas for marine biotoxins, poisons that build up in shellfish that feed on some algae. When a result goes over the legal limit, the agency and the local authority close the area to harvesting.

The agency publishes the current list of classified areas, with the sampling results behind them. Water with no grade yet has to be classified before anyone harvests from it. The farmer applies to the agency, and a provisional grade takes twelve samples over six months. The agency asks applicants to get any other permissions they need before they apply. The government advises checking with The Crown Estate that a location is free before applying to lease it.

Securing the seabed

In England and Wales, The Crown Estate owns almost all the seabed out to 12 nautical miles. A farm in coastal waters there needs a seabed lease from it, and applying costs nothing. The Crown Estate asks for a scale plan of the area, any consent references and a short business plan.

In England and Wales, some shellfish beds are also held under a several order. A several order gives the holder the exclusive right to fish for or cultivate named shellfish in a set area. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) handles applications and generally grants several orders for up to 20 years. Defra says applicants must first get written consent from whoever owns the seabed there.

From harvest to sale

Each grade has its own route from the water to the customer.

From a Class A area, shellfish can be harvested for people to eat with no treatment, provided they meet the end product standard.
From a Class B area, shellfish need purification in an approved centre, at least a month relaying in a Class A area, or an approved heat treatment.
From a Class C area, shellfish need at least two months relaying, or an approved heat treatment. Shellfish relaid in a Class B area also need purification afterwards.

Purification means holding shellfish in tanks of clean seawater while they filter out contaminants such as E. coli. Shellfish from an area whose results stay above the Class C limit must not be harvested. Any place that processes shellfish for people to eat, on shore or off, counts as a dispatch centre. Purification and dispatch centres both need approval from the local authority or district council. In England and Wales, a purification centre also needs authorisation from the Fish Health Inspectorate.

Licences and authorisation

Anyone setting up a mussel, oyster or clam farm (a mollusc farm) in England or Wales must apply to the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) for authorisation, under the Aquatic Animal Health (England and Wales) Regulations 2009. The form is called AW1. The FHI sends guidance on writing a biosecurity plan. The guidance also says whether the application needs a consultation with other government bodies, which can take up to 90 days. An inspector then visits, reviews your draft biosecurity plan and explains the records you must keep.

The FHI needs four documents with a mollusc farm's application, and cannot process it without them.

Proof of your right to occupy the land, or a seabed lease.
Planning consent, or a notice from the local planning authority that you do not need it.
If the farm is in a site of special scientific interest, consent from Natural England, or its notice that no consent is needed.
For a marine site, a marine licence, or a notice that the farm is exempt. In England, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) issues these.

In Wales, Natural Resources Wales grants marine licences. Its permission is also needed for work affecting a site of special scientific interest there.

Scotland has its own system. There, every new shellfish farm since 1 April 2007 has needed planning permission. A farm also needs a marine licence from the Marine Directorate, a seabed lease from Crown Estate Scotland and authorisation as an aquaculture business. Food Standards Scotland grades the harvesting areas there and monitors them for marine biotoxins.

Getting help

The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) has written an Aquaculture Regulatory Toolbox for England, and Seafish hosts it on its website. It has guidance for marine shellfish farms, land-based shellfish culture and purification centres. Business Wales publishes an Aquaculture Regulatory Toolbox for Wales.