1.1 In recent years the harvesting of undersized mussels from the Dyfi Estuary has been authorised. These mussels settled mainly in 2001 and 2002 on an existing cockle bed, killing the cockles beneath them. There has been limited mussel recruitment since then, and none has been noticed in the last 2 years.

1.2 There are good indications that thinning out the mussels has encouraged cockle spatfall, and that the area might revert to a cockle bed. The area is at too high a tidal height for the mussels to thrive, whereas cockles will grow satisfactorily at this tidal level.

1.3 The area is part of the Pen Llyn a’r Sarnau SAC, and is an SSSI. Agreement has been reached with CCW that the harvesting will have no likely significant effect on the site. This conclusion has been reached provided that access to and from the bed is by boat only, and that a part of the mussel bed is left untouched, to see what processes take place in the absence of fishing.

1.4 Authorisations to fish were issued from 15^th January 2007, and a total of 20 authorisations have been issued to date. The fishery has proceeded well, and with good compliance to the conditions of authorisation. The fishery will end on 31^st March.