Pupils at St Martins Primary School will mark the end of a school project on Friday (December 3rd) by selling Genuine Jersey oysters to customers in St Helier Fish Market. The event is being organised by the Jersey Oyster Company – a member of the Genuine Jersey Products Association (GJPA) – to teach youngsters about marine life and in particular how shellfish grow and feed.
Nearly thirty students, aged between ten and 11, will set up their own stall in the fish market between 9.15am and 11.45am. They will explain to customers how they helped to grow the shellfish from seed in special bags on tables Royal Bay of Grouville with the help of local fishermen Stephen Luce and Christopher Le Masurier, who set up Jersey Oyster six years ago.
General manager of Jersey Oyster Lorianne Norman say: “We got the idea for the project after hearing about a similar scheme in Ireland, where oyster farming is a very big industry. We have been delighted with the enthusiasm of the children who have shown a real interest in all stages of the project, which has been running for the past two years”.
Year six teacher Chris Lucas says: “The scheme has shown the pupils how much work and skill is invested in developing a product before it can go on sale. Friday’s visit to the fish market will enable the students to understand the final phase of the process and see what’s involved in getting the oysters from the market onto people’s plates at home”.
The youngsters will be selling their oysters in groups of five throughout the morning. It is in the pupils best efforts to try and sell as much of their stock as possible as Jersey Oyster has kindly allowed the school to keep the proceeds.
Lorianne says: “Hopefully the children will be able to raise around £250 which they can keep to put towards new school equipment. We are already working with another class at St Martins to continue the programme so hopefully it won’t be too long before we are back again in the market!”
