Here’s a revised article based on the provided text and verified with current data as of November 21, 2023:
Coquillages de l’étang de thau : Levée des restrictions après contamination
Sète, France – The restrictions on harvesting, transporting, purifying, shipping, and selling shellfish from the Thau lagoon have been lifted, the Hérault prefecture announced on Tuesday, November 21, 2023.The decision follows a period of concern over contamination that led to a temporary halt in sales.
“As an inevitable result, the activities of harvesting, transport, purification, shipping and marketing of shellfish from the Thau lagoon are again authorized from today,” the prefecture stated in a press release.
The recent suspension of sales began in late December 2023 following the detection of Escherichia coli bacteria in the shellfish, prompting health concerns.
Important Economic Impact
Patrice Lafont, president of the Regional Shellfish Committee of the Mediterranean (CRCM), expressed relief at the lifting of the restrictions, stating, “It’s a big relief because we finally have visibility. Now,we will measure the impact of this closure on consumers.” Lafont estimates the shellfish industry has lost approximately 12 million euros as the end of December.
Previous suspensions of shellfish sales from Thau, due to similar contamination issues, have taken “between 6 and 9 months” to recover to pre-crisis commercialization levels, according to Lafont. The recent negative publicity surrounding the contamination has also been damaging to the industry. Following the suspension, approximately fifty oyster farmers blocked access to the headquarters of the Midi libre newspaper to protest what they considered biased coverage.
The CRCM president indicated that a complaint was filed to investigate the source of the contamination and to seek recognition of the damages caused by the “devastating” closure.
The Thau Lagoon
The Thau lagoon, located near Sète and Agde, is a 7,000-hectare lagoon and a vital ecosystem. It is the largest shellfish farming area in the Mediterranean, accounting for 10% of France’s national oyster production and supporting around 3,000 jobs.
Government Support
Authorities have pledged 1.5 million euros in direct aid and an additional 1.5 million euros in indirect aid to help the sector overcome this latest crisis.
Sources:
* [https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2023/11/21/l-etang-de-thau-autorise-a-nouveau-la-commercialisation-de-ses-coquillages_6205499_3234.html](https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2