Post by Hoppy on Jun 12, 2006 14:46:12 GMT -1
Dee Estuary cockle beds to remain closed
Environment Agency Wales, which is responsible for the regulation and management of the sea fisheries in the Dee Estuary, has announced that the Dee Estuary cockle beds will be closed for fishing in 2006.
We met recently with fishermen’s representatives and conservation bodies to discuss stock levels, following an assessment of the results of a survey of cockle numbers. The survey showed that cockle numbers on all beds are low and well below the minimum numbers for the beds to be opened. Numbers of younger cockles were also lower than in recent years,
which may be attributable to the cold winter. However a major problem for fishery managers is that the population biology of these shellfish is poorly understood and large variations in stock can occur for no obvious reason.
The cockle populations and harvest on the Dee estuary have varied greatly over the past 20 years partly because of over-cropping. Harvesting last took place over three days in 2005.
The high price of cockles and the closure of other UK fisheries has also increased the amount of illegal activity on the estuary.
Alan Winstone, our North Wales Coast Environment Manager said: “It is vital that we balance the management of the cockle fishery with protecting the ecological features and wildlife of
the estuary. It would be inappropriate to open the beds at these low densities which would not only damage the fishery but further reduce food supplies for protected bird species”.
“The problems of over-harvesting, illegal activity and regulation of large numbers of cocklers in the past has emphasised the need to introduce a Regulating Order. This will limit the number of fishermen so that we can develop a sustainable fishery, which provides a regular income to those fishermen as well as protecting wildlife. It will also provide much-needed income to the Agency to enable us to re-invest into monitoring, managing and regulating the fishery.
We have consulted on this issue and although there is broad support for the proposal, there are still a number of concerns about various aspects of how the fishery would be managed in
the future. We have applied to Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government for an order which would allow 50 licences and one of the main concerns is the means by which licences would be allocated.
A recent meeting with fishermen’s representatives has come up with some revised proposals and we will be consulting on these in the near future. If we are unable to remove all outstanding objections then we will need to have a public inquiry, a process which is likely to take some time to reach a conclusion”.
Environment Agency Wales, which is responsible for the regulation and management of the sea fisheries in the Dee Estuary, has announced that the Dee Estuary cockle beds will be closed for fishing in 2006.
We met recently with fishermen’s representatives and conservation bodies to discuss stock levels, following an assessment of the results of a survey of cockle numbers. The survey showed that cockle numbers on all beds are low and well below the minimum numbers for the beds to be opened. Numbers of younger cockles were also lower than in recent years,
which may be attributable to the cold winter. However a major problem for fishery managers is that the population biology of these shellfish is poorly understood and large variations in stock can occur for no obvious reason.
The cockle populations and harvest on the Dee estuary have varied greatly over the past 20 years partly because of over-cropping. Harvesting last took place over three days in 2005.
The high price of cockles and the closure of other UK fisheries has also increased the amount of illegal activity on the estuary.
Alan Winstone, our North Wales Coast Environment Manager said: “It is vital that we balance the management of the cockle fishery with protecting the ecological features and wildlife of
the estuary. It would be inappropriate to open the beds at these low densities which would not only damage the fishery but further reduce food supplies for protected bird species”.
“The problems of over-harvesting, illegal activity and regulation of large numbers of cocklers in the past has emphasised the need to introduce a Regulating Order. This will limit the number of fishermen so that we can develop a sustainable fishery, which provides a regular income to those fishermen as well as protecting wildlife. It will also provide much-needed income to the Agency to enable us to re-invest into monitoring, managing and regulating the fishery.
We have consulted on this issue and although there is broad support for the proposal, there are still a number of concerns about various aspects of how the fishery would be managed in
the future. We have applied to Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government for an order which would allow 50 licences and one of the main concerns is the means by which licences would be allocated.
A recent meeting with fishermen’s representatives has come up with some revised proposals and we will be consulting on these in the near future. If we are unable to remove all outstanding objections then we will need to have a public inquiry, a process which is likely to take some time to reach a conclusion”.