As I understand this issue the EU shellfish ban was initially a temporary measure until April while a new agreement was thrashed out, and what Eustice was complaining about was the EU's unexpected change of stance in making the ban permanent, rather than the rules themselves. In fact doesn't this just demonstrate the arrogance of the EU where this Cypriot woman is quoting Eustice's letter back at him where he correctly interprets EU law for the UK seafood industry?
Meanwhile, I read elsewhere that there are around 1400 shellfish processing facilities in France, but apparently there are non in the UK? If processing shellfish is a viable business in France, surely it would be a viable business to process our own shellfish to add value before export? It seems to me that there has been a degree of complacency here from the seafood industry where they have been content to just ship it all off to France and let them make the extra money from the catch.
Not just shellfish either, apparently the quays of Peterhead, Grimsby etc are lined with continental trucks waiting to be loaded with fish straight from the trawlers and off across the Channel for processing.
Mind you even if seafood was processed here, I'm sure the EU would find some little niggle to implement a ban!