Traditional oyster catcher wins top award September 16 2012, 0 Comments

A CORNISH oyster catcher who works on the last fishery of its type in the world to use a traditional sailing boat has won a top accolade.

Cornish Native Oysters has been named Best Fish and Seafood Producer in the Good Produce Guide, a celebration of the most delicious fresh produce found in farm shops, delis, street markets and direct from individual producers.

Christopher Ranger, who has been fishing for oysters for four years and acting as merchant for three, said he was delighted.

"It is really great to be named in the book after just a few years' trading."

"My oysters are wild oysters, not from my own oyster bed."

"We gather the oysters using sail and oar and we're the last fishery in the world to be regulated for not using machinery."

Mr Ranger, who is based at Mylor, near Falmouth, said the hand gathering made all the difference to the taste.

"We grade them by hand, we put them in our own tanks by hand and then we pack them by hand."

"There's no machinery involved at all."

"Oysters are quite sensitive little creatures and a well treated animal tastes much better than a stressed animal."

The oysters landed by Mr Ranger are sold on the internet and end up on the plate at some of the most prestigious restaurants in Cornwall and London.