UK shellfish farmers threaten legal action over ban on exports to EU

© Philip Bird |

UK environment secretary George Eustice is coming under heightened pressure from the seafood industry, with two groups threatening legal actions. A solicitor representing 20 shellfish firms told The Guardian group action was being considered in response to government “negligence and maladministration” that has seen exports of live mussels, cockles, oysters and other shellfish caught in UK waters blocked from Europe. Alongside this, solicitors for one British firm have said government “false hope” to the industry had misled them and warned it was contemplating a “substantial damages claim”.