History
Photo: Alice Barbé
Before
1860, oyster fishing on wild banks took place in the Zuyder Sea and the
eastern part of the Wadden Sea, both in the north of the Netherlands. Overfishing
resulted in the loss of the oyster fishery and the province of Zeeland became
the most important oystering area. In 1870, the government, under pressure from
private investors and a French expert, decided to lease the oyster beds on the
famous Yerseke Bank in the Eastern Scheldt. In 1886, the last public oyster beds
were rented as cultivation parcels and the oyster industry became dominated by a
number of wealthy ‘outsiders’. Local fishermen were furious as they could
not afford the rent for a cultivation parcel. The new industry witnessed a
dramatic growth. Between 1849 and 1885, the population of Yerseke increased from 770
to 4,469 inhabitants.
After
1885, a recession took place in the oyster sector as a result of strongly
increased rents, a drop in the market price caused by increased European supply,
limits to the ecological carrying capacity, and a number of deaths caused by the
consumption of contaminated oysters. In response to the latter factor, the
government started a sanitary control programme in 1906. From 1911 onwards,
export increased once again and production levels remained stable until 1962. The
severe winter of 1962/63 caused high mortality rates. This, in combination with
the government’s decision to dam off the Eastern Scheldt, was a decisive
factor for the then 160 cultivators to leave the industry. Ten larger companies,
that were also engaged in the trade of other shellfish, decided not to hand in
their oyster parcels. When, under pressure of the fishing industry and nature
conservationists, it was decided not to dam off the Eastern Scheldt but to build
a storm surge barrier instead, they could continue their oyster businesses.
