Oyster farm left in the swim

The defences near Boston were hailed as new generation of coastal protection when open last week.

But resulting changes to water flow have swept away a large part of Graham Fletcher's oyster farm.

The Environment Agency said Mr Fletcher slipped through the net during its consultation process.

The defences, which included the creation of new salt marshes, were hailed as a new, sympathetic way of preserving the coastline.

But the scheme has brought serious problems for Mr Fletcher's business.

Breaches made in the sea defences have created fast flowing creeks which have damaged his oyster farm.

There were 2,500,000 oysters on the farm but now 600 of the 1,500 tables have been washed away.

New sites

The business has taken eight years to set up and is thought to be the only sustainable fishery in The Wash.

Mr Fletcher said: "I've got to think about moving the whole lot, looking at new sites and wondering whether I can start up again because as it is, this site will not be profitable."

"I'm annoyed that such a large business can be missed out of all the surveys and it's frustrating that such a large organisation like the Environment Agency can forget about you."

Compensation payout

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said its members had consulted and advertised widely before going ahead with the flooding.

"At no time did we encounter Mr Fletcher and it appears that sadly he just slipped through the net."

The agency has given Mr Fletcher workers to help set tables back in position.

It also said it hoped the water system would settle down but if this did not happen it did recognise a duty to pay compensation.