More than 22kg of illegally harvested shellfish has been seized after police and council officers joined a crackdown on unauthorised collecting from Southend’s beaches.
Four people were stopped at Chalkwell Beach on 4 September during a joint operation involving Kent & Essex Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authority (IFCA), Southend City Council and Essex Police’s Marine Unit.
Officers were checking people reported to be collecting mussels, clams and periwinkles, with 22kg of shellfish subsequently seized by council environmental health officers.
More than half of the clams inspected were below the legal minimum size for harvesting.
Marine officer PC Craig Stocker said: “Harvesting shellfish without a permit or a licence is illegal.
“The rules are there to protect public health because shellfish which are not properly harvested may be unsafe to eat because they can be contaminated with raw sewage and other toxins.
“It’s also illegal to harvest undersized shellfish and the amount that can be harvested is also restricted to avoid any one species becoming endangered.”
Why illegal shellfish harvesting is a problem
The issue goes beyond people simply taking shellfish from the beach.
Shellfish destined for sale are subject to strict food safety controls because they can accumulate harmful bacteria and other contaminants from the water in which they live.
Southend Council says legitimate operators collect shellfish using registration documents before moving them to council-approved purification centres, where they undergo a cleaning process before being sold to consumers.
Shellfish taken from unclassified or prohibited beds, or without the correct documentation, can be seized and destroyed. The council advises residents and visitors to buy shellfish from reputable food businesses so they can be confident it has passed through the appropriate controls.
There is also an environmental concern. Minimum size restrictions allow shellfish to mature and reproduce, helping protect stocks from over-harvesting. Kent & Essex IFCA sets and enforces minimum sizes for a number of species found locally.
Illegal commercial harvesting can also disadvantage legitimate fishermen and seafood businesses which have to comply with licensing, hygiene, catch and traceability requirements. Southend has a significant fishing and cockling heritage centred around Leigh, with the council currently investing in the future of Leigh Port and its fishing industry.
1.5 tonnes seized last year
The problem is not new.
Figures presented by Southend Council to Kent & Essex IFCA show that council officers seized around 1.5 tonnes of shellfish during 2025, involving five formal seizures through the courts and five voluntary surrenders, as well as other abandoned consignments.
Officials said May to September tends to be the main period for illegal harvesting activity in the city.
During the latest operation, police fingerprint scanners were used to confirm the identities of people stopped. IFCA said this was particularly useful in progressing enforcement action involving repeat offenders who had previously provided false details. No arrests were made during the operation.
The lack of arrests has prompted some criticism locally.
Jason Davis said: “More than half were undersized, they didn’t have a licence, yet there were no arrests. That just gives them the green light to carry on doing it without fear of reprisal.”
However, an arrest is not required for enforcement action to be taken. Southend Council says breaches of food hygiene regulations can amount to criminal offences, with offenders potentially facing prosecution, an unlimited fine and, for some offences, imprisonment.
Cllr Irene Ferguson, Cabinet Member for Housing and Preventing Homelessness, said: “Illegal shellfish harvesting is a serious issue that puts public health at risk, damages our local seafood industry, and harms the coastal environment.
“Southend has a long-standing shellfish heritage and we are committed to protecting it. We work closely with partners to monitor activity and will support enforcement action where needed.
“We urge anyone witnessing suspicious shellfish harvesting to report it via My Southend so it can be investigated.”
Many Southend residents say they regularly see people collecting large quantities of shellfish along the city’s coastline.
Anyone who witnesses suspected illegal shellfish picking or oyster shucking on Southend foreshore can report it using Southend City Council’s dedicated online form here.
If the activity is ongoing, the council also advises calling its food safety team on 01702 215000.