I was delighted to welcome Katie Emerson, the daughter of Richard Emans and Operations Director of Maldon Oysters, to Westminster with the Shellfish Aquaculture All-Party Parliamentary Group.
Oysters have a long history in the Blackwater Estuary, where they have been cultivated since Roman Britain. Since 2003, Richard Emans and his family have run the Maldon Oyster Company, championing sustainable practices and innovative depuration techniques. As a result, Maldon Oysters can be found in some of the top restaurants in the country.
Thanks to the care taken by Maldon Oysters in restoring these historic oyster beds, the estuary has also benefited from the ecological benefits that oysters provide. I am always happy to meet members of local family businesses, as they are a core part of our community.