1.1 Ballast Bank lies within the Menai Strait Fishery Order (see Annex A) and licences are issued under that Order for the hand picking of mussels. There are presently 9 licences, active from 1^st September to 30^th April, at an annual charge of £100.00.

1.2 An application has been received from the Ballast Bank Mussel Cultivation Association to change the management of Ballast Bank from a licensed fishery into a Several Fishery lay. This is a new Association formed by some of the present licence holders. The 2 letters received from the Association are attached at Annex B. The area of the proposed new lay is shown on the map at Annex A.

1.3 The basis of the application is that the yield and quality of mussels from Ballast Bank is very low, but that the output from the area could be increased if husbandry was carried out. This is unlikely to happen whilst the area is managed as a regulated public fishery. However, if a Several Fishery lay was created and leased to the Association then the applicants suggest that it would be possible to actively cultivate the mussels, as is done on the other lays within the Menai Strait, with a consequent increase in both mussel quality and yield.

1.4 The applicants cite the case of the Ogwen mussel fishery. This was operated under individual licences, in the same way that Ballast Bank is now, until the 1980s. At that time the Ogwen bed was in decline, and it was agreed to create a new Several Fishery lay there, leased to the Ogwen Mussel Fishermen’s Co-operative. This proved to be a successful venture. The lease gave the Ogwen Co-operative exclusive rights of mussel fishery over the area, and they were able to re-seed the bed and to actively manage the mussels as they grew to size. The output from the area was increased substantially.

1.5 Officers agree that the yield of mussels from Ballast Bank is very low, and that a Several Fishery lay offers much greater scope for mussel husbandry than the present licensing regime. Some relaying of mussels has taken place on the eastern end of Ballast Bank in the past, but only on 2 occasions. Regular re-seeding of the Conwy fishery has taken place in recent years, and this is a Regulated public fishery operated under licence, but this has only been possible because Conwy has been self-sufficient in seed mussels in most years. Ballast Bank does not receive natural mussel spatfalls of much magnitude or regularity. Re-seeding would therefore require the regular importing of seed, and this is unlikely to happen under the present system of management.

1.6 Officers would point out, however, that Ballast Bank is very different to the Ogwen mussel bed. There is a considerable area of good growing ground around the mouth of the Ogwen river, whereas most of Ballast Bank is at a high tidal level, and the output of marketable mussels from Ballast Bank would never be expected to approach that from the Ogwen. Nevertheless, it may be possible to use the higher parts of Ballast Bank for the hardening-off of seed, and to find enough lower-lying areas to produce a worthwhile harvest of sizeable mussels.

2.1 Letters have been sent to all of the present Ballast Bank licence holders, and to the mussel cultivators who hold Several Fishery leases on nearby areas, to gauge their reaction to the proposal.

2.2 If it is decided to proceed with the change in management, then this will constitute a Plan or Project under the Habitats Regulations, and an Appropriate Assessment will be required. However, the Countryside Council for Wales are pressing for an annual assessment of the present licensed fishery, particularly the possible effect on oystercatchers, so this may not be an increased administrative burden. The change would also need the agreement of the Welsh Assembly Government.

2.3 Officers will continue to gather feedback from stakeholders, and to liaise with the applicants. The results of this consultation will be presented to the Meeting.