NORTH WESTERN AND NORTH WALES SEA FISHERIES COMMITTEE
OFFICER’S REPORT
MORECAMBE BAY COCKLE FISHERY
Report by the Senior Scientific Officer and Fishery Orders Development Officer.
Purpose of Report
To inform Members of the results of the 2008 summer cockle surveys in Morecambe Bay and the actions taken by officers to manage the stocks.
Recommendation
That Members formally endorse the actions taken by Officers in implementing the closure (under Byelaw 13a) of cockle beds in Morecambe Bay for the period 1st September 2008 to 30th April 2009.
That the report be received.
1. Background
1.1 The start of the seasonal closure for cockles under Byelaw 14 on 1st May 2008 brought an end to a small but persistent amount of effort that had prevailed throughout the second half of the 2007/8 cockle fishery in Morecambe Bay.
1.2 As previously reported, data from the surveys in late 2007 showed heavy pre-winter losses among the 2007 year class leaving an already low adult stock dominated by a single year class (2006). The reasons for this mortality are unknown although they are not thought to be related to fishing activity as the findings were the same in unfished areas as they were in fished areas.
1.3 Concern was expressed not only for the prospects for a fishery in the winter of 2008/9 but also in respect of the stock’s future breeding ability being compromised.
2. 2008 survey results
| Bed | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
| Pilling |
182 |
39 |
15 |
38 |
14 |
| Middleton |
111 |
54 |
12 |
40 |
17 |
| Warton Sands |
83 |
28 |
7 |
32 |
15 |
| Flookburgh |
162 |
10 |
5 |
31 |
26 |
2.1 Stock surveys of the main cockle beds in Morecambe Bay were carried out between June and August of 2008. As expected with the failure of the 2007 year class, adult cockle mean densities (no/m2) were much lower than those in 2007 (see table below). Virtually all of the adult cockles found were of the 2006 year class. The between years pattern of reduction in density of this year class across the Bay (also see table below) suggests that the amount of fishing effort in the 2007/08 had little or no apparent effect on overall mortality. Although no comparative surveyed figures are available for the Bardsea to Rampside beds, anecdotal evidence points to the situation there as being similar to the other beds in the Bay.
2.2 The surveys also revealed a widespread 2008 spatfall with all of the main beds receiving good settlement. This gives some hope for a replenishment of the brood stock providing these animals survive the winter and recruit to the fishery. However, past experience shows that this is by no means an assured outcome. Indeed if this does not happen and the area is solely reliant on a further diminished 2006 year class as brood stock (bearing in mind 2009 would be considered the last year a 2006 cockle could be expected to live through) then the potential for stocks to recover to fishable levels in the next few years look very low.
3. Management measures
3.1 The mean densities of adult cockles on the main beds in 2008 are very close to or below that considered to be biologically sound in terms of providing a viable brood stock. Consequently, officers feel it would imprudent to open the cockle beds in Morecambe Bay to fishing when the seasonal closure for the district expires on 31st August 2008.
3.2 Following consultation with the relevant statutory bodies and the Chairman of the Joint Committee, officers have therefore informed interested parties that Morecambe Bay will be closed to cockle fishing until 30th April 2009. Public notices detailing the closure (copy at Annex A) have been distributed to Fishery Officers to be displayed at all major access points to the beds.
3.3 Scientific staff will continue to monitor the situation with additional survey work and officers will investigate any information that might be relevant to reviewing the closure’s maintenance or revocation.
W. COOK
Senior Scientific Officer
R. A. HOUGHTON
Fishery Orders Development Officer
26th August 2008
LOCAL GOVERNMENT (ACCESS TO INFORMATION) ACT, 1985
List of Background Papers
There are no background papers to this report.