From D. J. GARROD
Just to correct a couple of points on your article on Pacific oysters
(This Week, 26 September). The Pacific oyster was introduced in the early
1960s; it is not a recent introduction, and pre-dates the use of epoxy-based
TBT antifouling paints.
This last year was the first time we have detected the successful over-wintering
of any progeny. It remains to be seen if warmer conditions persist long
enough for them to form self-sustaining populations, but if they do their
preferred habitat is typically inter-tidal rather than sub-tidal, where
the native oysters are found.
D. J. Garrod Fisheries Laboratory Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries
and Food Lowestoft, Suffolk
