1.1 In the event that the change of status of Ballast Bank from a licensed fishery to a Several fishery lay does not take place for the 2008/09 season, then it will be necessary to issue licences in the normal way.

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 9 of the licence holders have complied on both counts.

1.4 Very little activity took place in this fishery during last season. Returns indicate that 7 of the licensees did not fish at all, and the other 2 spent limited time on this fishery. It is understood that the mussels relayed on the east side of Ballast Bank in 2006 have grown quite slowly, and were still well below the minimum landing size at the end of the season.

2.1 If the licensed fishery continues during next season, then Officers suggest that licences should again be issued up to a maximum of 10. A survey will be conducted later in the summer to determine the current state of the stock.