Labour's parliamentary candidate for Falmouth and Truro is to speak to South West Water to discuss the latest threat to the Fal oyster fishing industry.

The meeting follows the news that shellfish sites in the Fal have been forced to close after an outbreak of E coli.

Cllr Jayne Kirkham said the future of the shellfish industry hangs in the balance.

"It was an afterthought in the Brexit agreements leading to extra red tape and reduced markets. Then neglect of our sewage infrastructure led to hours of untreated sewage pouring into our rivers. The result is this – E Coli and closed sites.

“This is a vital, heritage industry and the appalling truth is that this government has been either too incompetent or too uncaring to do anything to protect it. After 13 years of negligence, we need a Labour government to put this right.

"To stop the spills and protect consumers of our seafood and people who use our beaches, Labour will give the Environment Agency the power and resources to monitor all sewage outlets. We will introduce automatic fines for discharges and a legally binding target to reduce sewage dumping.

"We will ensure that failure to improve is paid from dividends, not customer bills and bosses who routinely and persistently break the rules will face fines.”

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Protecting the shellfish industry is an issue that Cllr Kirkham says she has taken up over several years as the impact of Brexit and pollution has endangered local fisheries.

The Guardian news website reported in May that “very high” levels of E coli found in oysters and mussels have led to the closure of 11 shellfish production zones in Cornwall.

Martin Laity, of Flushing based Sailor's Creek Shellfish based on Flushing told the Guardian: “We know when to harvest, we know when the rivers are dirty … and we’ve never poisoned anyone. But how the hell did the water companies get permission to [dump raw sewage]?”

Mr Laity said he did not know who was responsible for the E coli problem, but added: “There are so many incidents up the river of the water company spilling … if you fly-tipped in a river you’d be arrested.”