1.1 At the Joint Committee meeting in February 2006 it was reported that there was interest by the industry in harvesting undersized mussels from the Dyfi Estuary. Two heavy settlements of mussels had occurred on a formerly productive cockle bed, resulting in the death of most of the cockles.

1.2 A survey of the area revealed that the stock of mussels had decreased since the spring of 2005, but that a harvestable resource was still present. There had been no further settlement of mussels on the area, and the great majority of the mussels were still below the Committee’s size limit.

1.3 Consultation with the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) was carried out. It was suggested to CCW that the removal of the small mussels should no longer be treated as experimental, but that as many mussels should be removed as possible in order to encourage recruitment of cockles to the area.

1.4 CCW’s response was that the activity was unlikely to have a negative effect on the conservation features of the site, but that an area should be left unfished in order to gauge the outcome of the activity.

2.1 Authorisations to remove undersized mussels were issued to 11 fishermen, expiring at the end of April 2006.

2.2 The area Fishery Officer, Keith Stone, reports that there was little fishing activity, with only 1 tonne of mussels being taken by a local gatherer and relayed in the R. Leri.

2.3 There is still interest in harvesting these mussels, and it is proposed to issue further authorisations in September 2006, given agreement with CCW