Native oysters are highly prized but across their range they are becoming more and more rare. The stocks of native oyster in Falmouth and the Helford estuary are healthy and in Falmouth the Truro River Oyster fishery (whch produces Fal Oysters) is uniquely managed through a bylaw that has effectively frozen the fishery in time by banning the use of motors so that oyster are still collected using traditional sailing and rowing vessels. This makes Fal Oysters highly sustainable as well as a world famous delicacy.
This low impact artisanal fishery is a great example of a the preservation of shellfish stocks through a simple ruling that has also preserved a traditional way of life and created a niche fishery product that has high marketing value. The fishery is well managed and latest stoc assessments show that oyster stocks are healthy.
Updated July 2018
Truro rIver and Fal Estuary
Sustainably harvested using lightweight dredges that are towed by traditional sail boats and rowing boats. The unique management of this fishery has resulted in a sustainable harvesting regime that has kept stocks healthy for 150 years.
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Cornwall Good Seafood Guide rates fish on sustainability using a scale of 1 to 5.
1, 2 and 3 are recommended, Fish to avoid are rated 5.
We use the system devised by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) so our scores are comparable with the scores produced by MCS for the UK and fisheries from all around the world. For more information on scoring click here.
Native oysters from the truro river (Fal) oyster fishery are caught using low impact and heavily restricted methods. Lightweight dredges (without teeth) are pulled over the oyster beds and are hauled by hand. They are also farmed on oyster beds or 'lays'.
Cornwall Good Seafood Guide is underpinned by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) Good Fish Guide. The first UK consumer guide to sustainable seafood. For more information visit www.fishonline.org
