1.1 Ballast Bank lies within the Menai Strait Fishery Order, and licences are issued under that Order for the hand picking of mussels. The number of licences issued is linked to stock levels, although there is no formal procedure for determining the most appropriate number. The licences are active from 1^st September to 30^th April, at a current charge of £50.00.

1.2 Last season there were 5 licence holders for Ballast Bank, with a further 12 persons on the waiting list. It is normal practice to carry out a stock survey before issuing licences, and in the past this has been done during July, with the determination of licence numbers also being made during that month.

1.3 It is the Committee’s policy that licences should only be renewed if the holder has both paid the appropriate fee and submitted catch returns for the previous season. All 5 of the licence holders have complied on both counts.

1.4 Complaints have been received that many of the licensed gatherers have not fished at all during the 2006/7 season. The complainants therefore request that these licences should not be renewed, and the numbers should be made up from the waiting list. Inspection of the catch returns shows that only one person has fished during the last season. The other 4 licence holders have submitted returns indicating that no fishing has taken place.

1.5 In 2006 some 1000 tonnes of seed mussels from Morecambe Bay were relayed on Ballast Bank by the mussel cultivators who have Several Fishery lays in the Menai Strait. It was agreed that half of the surviving stock should be removed by dredging in the summer of 2007, but that half should remain to improve the hand gathering fishery.

1.6 An inspection of Ballast Bank in early May showed that there was a considerable stock of older mussels present, but that most of these had at least some barnacle cover. The bulk of the stock is therefore of a quality that would find a limited market. The Morecambe Bay mussels were still well below the minimum landing size of 45mm shell length, but would be expected to grow well during the summer and autumn. The total stock of mussels appears to be significantly greater than in recent years. Given that the level of effort by the licence holders is currently very low, it should therefore be possible to increase the numbers of licences issued.

2.1 Officers suggest that licences should be issued up to a maximum of 10 for the 2007/08 season. A fuller stock survey will be conducted later in the summer to ensure that stocks are compatible with this number.

2.2 As the current licence holders are not fully utilising the licences, it is suggested that the licence fee should be increased from £50.00 to £100.00 per season to discourage persons from holding licences but not fishing.