After the Arcachon Basin, it is the turn of Calvados and Manche (Normandy) to be affected by the ban on the sale of oysters. Friday December 29, 2023, the prefect of Calvados indicated the bad news on his X account (ex-Twitter): “The prefect of Calvados has decided to temporarily prohibit the marketing and release for human consumption of shellfish from the Grandcamp Maisy and Géfosse Fontenay sectors”. There will therefore be no oysters and shellfish from two very specific sectors: Grandcamp Maisyzone 14-160 and Gefosse Fontenay, area 14-161. The prefect, however, wished to reassure: “No other production area in Calvados is concerned”, after the traceability investigation and analyzes carried out on the farmed oysters. Terrible news for oyster farmers when we know that they generate a significant portion of their turnover during this period.
A ban on recreational shellfish fishing was also ordered
Oysters and other shellfish from Normandy are therefore prohibited for consumption and sale. As for the southwest, the public decision comes after several reports of food poisoning. “Following reports of cases of collective food poisoning whose symptoms are those of acute gastroenteritis”, explained the prefecture on the social network. For the moment, no date for a return to normal has been communicated. The authorities made it clear that the measures would be lifted as soon as the health quality of the shellfish was satisfactory. In a press release, the prefect of Calvados also declared that recreational shellfish fishing was prohibited. Consumers with shellfish at home are asked not to consume them and to return them to the points of sale. For his part, the prefect of Manche also confirmed the presence of norovirus in the St Vaast La Hougue area. As a safety measure, he therefore insisted on prohibiting fishing, harvesting and marketing for consumption of all shellfish. A discovery that was made “as part of the shellfish health quality monitoring network”. Noroviruses [des virus responsables d’un tiers des infections d’origine alimentaire en France, selon l’ANSES, NDLR] would cause symptoms identical to those of severe gastroenteritis.