Here is some history about the festival taken from their website:
Falmouth Oyster Festival celebrates the start of the oyster dredging season, the diversity and quality of Cornish Seafood and in particular, one of the last remaining traditional oyster fisheries, dredging by sail and hand punt.
For over a century, Cornish families have derived their livelihood from oyster dredging in the Carrick Roads and surrounding rivers. Many of the oyster boats, known as Falmouth Working Boats were built at boatyards around the Fal, with some of the oldest boats in the Oyster Fishery dating back as far as 1860.
Governed by ancient laws that were put in place to protect the natural ecology of the riverbeds and oyster stocks, oystermen fishing in the Port of Truro Oyster Fishery are prohibited from using engines. Instead, sail power and hand-pulled dredges must be used. This is the only oyster fishery in Europe, if not the world, where such traditional methods must be used. Falmouth Oyster Festival celebrates the start of the oyster season, which runs from October to March.
The Working Boats range in size from 22 ft to 30 ft and have the original gaff cutter rig. The oyster beds, or lays, are marked by sticks, or ‘withies’, that protrude from the water. The fishermen rely on the tides, wind, their skill, and local knowledge of the fishing waters to dredge for oysters. Once caught, the oysters are purified for 36 hours before being sold. Some oysters are returned to beds to fatten, and can be sold after the close of the oyster season.
During the summer months, the Working Boats may be seen racing in the Carrick Roads, and at many regattas in the county. The racing rig is far larger than the rig used for fishing, and these gracious vessels create a truly magnificent spectacle as they race at close quarters under full sail. The Oyster Working Boat Race is an integral part of Falmouth Oyster Festival and is one of the last races of the season for many Working Boats.
Native oysters from the Truro Oyster Fishery are prized throughout the UK, and are sold to customers across the South West, and throughout the country, with top London restaurants and hotels being supplied from our local waters. Pacific oysters, which are larger than the natives, are also reared in the Fal - you will be able to try both varieties at the Festival.
There are plenty of reasons to learn more about this fascinating, yet fragile industry which plays a large part in Falmouth’s maritime industry and heritage. We hope you enjoy Falmouth Oyster Festival - spread the news and continue to support the oyster industry and continue to support the oyster industry and community.
Here's a picture of a typical working boat:
The picture was taken by Emily Davis (www.emilydavisphotography.co.uk) and I am very grateful to Emily for letting me use it here.
I have set myself a challenge in recent years to try new things. I had never tried an Oyster in any form (cooked or raw), so here was the perfect opportunity to try one. Davina and I went to the Festival on Saturday afternoon. The main Marquee by the Maritime museum was packed:
Even Neptune found it difficult to find a seat:
So he had to hang from the roof!
We fought our way through the crowds and found an Oyster Bar:
We paid our fiver and got a plate of Oysters. Here's Davina with our Oysters and a bottle Pear Rattler (outside the marquee, because we couldn't find a seat inside).:
Here's meeting eating a raw Oyster with a bit of tabasco:
We both enjoyed them, but next time we have them we would like to be sitting somewhere nice and calm and quiet, with a nice glass of Pinot Grigio. I can't wait.
This is a nice picture of boats in the marina to finish the blog:
and a picture looking back towards the town from the end of Prince of Wales Pier:
If you have never tried an Oyster, give it a go, you'll love em.
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