Rishi Sunak and Anna Firth in Leigh-on-Sea, where fishermen are delighted by the shellfish discovery (Image: GETTY)
Britain’s liberation from the European Union’s complex web of rules and regulations has left the nation well-placed to take advantage of massive beds of valuable clams discovered in the Thames Estuary, a Tory MP has said.
Anna Firth was speaking days after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited Leigh-on-Sea, in her Southend West constituency, to meet fishermen including Paul Gilson, President of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO), who believes the treasure trove of shellfish could be worth up to ￡60million to the British economy.
The large beds of Manila and razor clams are certain to be prized around the world - once they can be harvested.
Ms Firth, who had invited Mr Sunak to visit days earlier during Prime Minister’s Question Time, told Express.co.uk: “This discovery, which could lead to new fisheries that can be developed and managed by English fishermen is hugely exciting for Southend.”
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In time, the beds could become “the long-term saviour of Leigh’s maritime industry and preserve its heritage”, Ms Firth predicted.
READ MORE: BBC Question Time's Fiona Bruce left stunned by audience member's comment
Rishi Sunak carefully tries to avoid a 'bacon sandwich moment' as he tucks into some seafood (Image: Getty)
She continued: “I was absolutely delighted to welcome the PM to Southend to see this discovery for himself, and to try the seafood for which we're known.”
Mr Firth continued: “As we have both native and non-native clams growing in the Thames estuary, we need to explore ways in which both can be harvested sustainably.
“Being outside the EU allows us to manage our shell fisheries more appropriately, enabling us to consider local conditions as well as the evidence in front of us.”
There were still issues which needed to be resolved, Ms Firth emphasised.
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Manila clams are prized the world over (Image: Getty)
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Retained EU law containing “minimum landing sizes” (MLS), designed to protect the native clam species which reach maturity at larger sizes, means that an opportunity to take advantage of the large numbers of shellfish in the Estuary is “currently being uncapitalised”, she explained.
However, being outside the bloc, Britain had scope to amend the rules, she pointed out, in line with Mr Gilson’s suggestion, also in conversation with Express.co.uk, that the UK needs to “adjust the rules to fit the clam”.
Ms Firth added: “Paul Gilson has done incredible work in this area and is a stalwart of the fishing industry, and so I look forward to working closely with him, as well as with the Government, regulators and scientists to consider the issues which need to be resolved before fisheries can be established.
“To receive the Prime Minister's support has been wonderful.”
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Southend Pier, jutting out into the Thames Estuary (Image: Getty)
Speaking earlier this week, Mr Gilson, who put the value of the clam beds at between ￡30million and ￡60million, and possibly even more, added: “These kinds of clams are prized around the world. I’ve been quoted prices from ￡6 to ￡16 per kilo, so we are talking a very, very serious amount of money. I cannot emphasise how exciting this is, it’s really positive.
“What I'm trying to do is get a proper survey started on both types of clam. We know that one clam bed is approximately four miles long and half a mile wide.
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That is a huge volume of clams, and we know that they're breeding.
He added: “We need some good science, working with the agencies, the MMO (the Marine Management Organisation) and Defra to work out how we can do this best.
“We need to have a managed approach, we don't want a free for all, we don't want companies coming in and taking six, seven or eight tonnes at a time, and killing the golden goose.”
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