Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many shellfish waters were categorised into class (a) A, (b) B, (c), C and (d) below class C for E.coli concentration in each year between 2019 and 2024.
The following 17 classification zones have been prohibited for more than one year: Bailey’s Hard; Prinstead; Thurstaston East; Turnaway Point Relay; Wisemans; Mersey, specifically Wallasey; Dodnor; Aldingham; Plym; Tamar; Lytchett Bay; Fareham Lake Middle; Ribble Channel; Silloth South, specifically Catherinehole Scar; Itchen River; Eling; and Hythe. The following table provides a breakdown of classifications awarded, and the number of areas designated as prohibited for commercial harvesting, each year between 2019 and 2024:
| A | B | C | Total classifications | Areas prohibited for commercial harvesting |
2019 | 27 | 232 | 29 | 288 | 17 |
2020 | 32 | 226 | 30 | 288 | 16 |
2021 | 39 | 253 | 18 | 310 | 17 |
2022 | 60 | 222 | 13 | 295 | 18 |
2023 | 66 | 240 | 9 | 318 | 22 |
Current classifications | 63 | 229 | 8 | 300 | 19 |
Notes:
Annual classification for 2024 will be published on 1 December 2024, however, the current classification stands at 63 class A, 229 class B and 8 class C beds.