Calls Made for Greater Transparency on Scallop Exports to France

Minister Pressed for Clarity on French Rejection of Jersey Scallops

Jersey’s Environment Minister has been urged to explain reports that French authorities recently refused consignments of island-caught scallops because they were packed in ice made from local tap water.

The Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel has asked Minister Steve Luce to provide further information on the incident and to clarify what paperwork or certification is currently required for seafood exports to France.

During a recent hearing, Deputy Luce said exporters were finding it increasingly challenging to satisfy French import rules for seafood, which have become more stringent in recent years.

According to the government’s Marine Resources team, the French Border Control Post in St Malo requested that scallops should not be exported packed in ice. However, the St Malo authorities later stated they had not requested an analysis of the ice water itself.

The Scrutiny Panel has asked the minister to issue an update within the coming days, outlining the precise circumstances of the reported refusal and confirming the current regulatory position.

Jersey’s scallop industry remains a vital part of the island’s fishing economy. Government figures show that local fishers landed more than 1,020 tonnes of scallops last year — one of their strongest catches on record.

The Environment Department has been approached for further comment.