Fal oysters are native oysters harvested in the traditional way, under sail and oar, within the Fal Estuary and Truro River. The Fal oyster fishery is unique: local byelaws banned the use of engines more than a century ago, effectively freezing the fishery in time and preventing the overfishing that has devastated native oyster stocks elsewhere in the UK.

Today, the Fal fishery is the last remaining viable native oyster fishery in the country, and it remains central to the heritage, culture, and economy of the Fal and Truro river.

In a significant step for the future of the fishery, members of the Fal Fisheries Management Committee have voted to increase the minimum landing size for native oysters. This measure aims to strengthen long-term sustainability, rebuild stocks, and support a thriving fishery for generations to come. The new, larger landing size is now in effect.

Committee meetings were co-chaired by Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Matt Slater and the Environment Agency’s Tony Arden. 

Matt said:
“It was a pleasure to have played a very small part in helping this change come about, and I really hope this will benefit the fishery in the long term, improving the sustainability of this unique traditional fishery.”

Allowing oysters more time to grow before harvest makes biological and economic sense. Larger oysters produce far more larvae each year, helping population recovery. They are also more marketable, as they contain more meat, something chefs and seafood buyers increasingly look for.

Local fishmonger Giles Gilbert of Pysk welcomed the change:
“Our customers appreciate carefully sourced, high-quality seafood. The increased minimum landing size for native Falmouth oysters ensures we consistently receive a better grade of oyster, which ultimately means better quality for the consumer. Bigger, healthier oysters are good news for everyone.”

The new size limit is measured using a metal ring: any oyster that passes through must be returned to the fishery. The minimum size has risen from 67mm to 72mm. Though this may seem a small increase, it has a big impact. Oysters caught will now typically be 4–5 years old, rather than 2–3 years under the previous limit. This means they will have two additional years of spawning, significantly boosting the long-term resilience of native stocks. They will also reach around 70g, a size preferred by chefs.

The Fal oyster fishery is managed by the Cornwall Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (CIFCA) and operates within the Fal and Helford Special Area of Conservation.

More information about native oysters can be found on the Cornwall Good Seafood Guide website.