- An epidemic of gastroenteritis is currently affecting oysters in the Morbihan, in the Manche and in Charente-Maritime.
- About 300 oyster farmers demonstrated Wednesday in Auray in Morbihan to ask for help.
- They demand a "Marshall Plan" in terms of urban sanitation, believing that wastewater is the source of the virus.
In the aftermath of the holidays, the oyster farmers in Morbihan are looking gray. In question, an epidemic of gastroenteritis which currently affects oysters, leading to the shutdown of several production sites. On Wednesday in Auray, around 300 oyster farmers demonstrated to demand a "Marshall plan" in terms of urban sanitation.
Oysters, "who are not sick", carry the "norovirus", a virus which "comes from the man", underlined Renan Henry, one of the persons in charge for the committee of survival of the oyster farmers. However, this virus can cause gastroenteritis, hence the prefectural orders prohibiting the marketing of shellfish on several sites, in the Channel and on the Atlantic coast.
The sewage causing the virus according to them
"We are asking for a real Marshall plan in terms of sanitation because it has been going on for four years" and that oyster farmers have repeatedly encountered this type of problem, said Renan Henry. "The population is increasing in the region and the sanitation networks are not dimensioned as they should be, which means that the wastewater is insufficiently treated and part of the discharges end up in the sea," he said. added.
The oyster farmers were received last Friday by the prefect of Morbihan and must be received Friday at the ministry in Paris. "It will have to lead to something. Otherwise, we are going to die, ”estimated the oyster farmer whose headquarters of the family business is located in the Auray river.
“We don't know if we are closed for 15 days or for a month, it depends on the results of the analyzes. I had to recall lots that were already shipped. I have had large clients for years but when the contracts have to be renewed, perhaps I will lose them because I have not been able to assure them of the expected supply. We lose confidence, "he regrets, stressing that the end of year celebrations represent 60% of its turnover.
The English Channel and Charente-Maritime also affected
In addition to Morbihan, prefectural orders prohibiting the marketing of shellfish have been issued, in particular for production sites in Mont-Saint-Michel bay, in Charente-Maritime and in the Manche.
#Gastro epidemic + heavy rain + saturation treatment plants = # contaminated water and sick oysters. However, solutions exist. Elected officials to apply them.
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“The equation is known: gastro-epidemic + rain + saturation treatment plants = sick shellfish. However, the solutions exist, elected officials apply them, ”writes the association Eau et Rivières de Bretagne in a press release, also noting the role of the heavy rains of recent weeks in this phenomenon. “Elected officials are responsible for rainwater and sanitation. Shellfish farmers are right to ask them for accounts, ”considers the association.
Health
The shells of the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel unfit for consumption
Health
Two oyster ripening areas closed after contamination in Charente-Maritime
- epidemic
- Oysters
- Gastroenteritis
- Society
- Virus