Got Oysters?

Here is one little-known side effect of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Don't expect oysters if you are dining out in Paris.

"A deadly virus is stalking France's coastline, killing at least 60 percent of the young oysters there since 2008. Japan's earthquake and tsunami may have wiped out the latest rescue plan.

The March 11 natural disasters destroyed the fishing industry in Miyagi Prefecture, which produced 80 percent of Japan's oyster seeds in 2009. That is forcing France to abandon plans to import and breed Miyagi's Pacific oyster species, and find another solution for diners seeing fewer, and more costly, options."

(This is from Bloomberg news, by Makiko Kitamura and Maki Shirai.)