1.1 A request has been received to remove a small quantity of cockles from Morecambe Bay, and to relay them at Ravenglass in Cumbria as a cultivation trial. The intention is to remove some 200kg of cockles from the Morecambe area by hand-gathering.

1.2 The Committee has already approved in principle the experimental transplantation of cockles from Morecambe Bay to the Ribble Estuary. Officers believe that the current proposal should be encouraged, since there does appear to be potential for cultivation of cockles in a similar manner to mussels, and this could be a valuable augmentation of the wild fishery.

1.3 The cockles will be removed from the Morecambe Bay SAC, and since a written authorisation from the Committee will be required, the operation will constitute a "plan or project" under the Habitats Regulations. Consultation with Natural England will be necessary. If small cockles are plentiful in the area, Officers would hope that the removal of such a small quantity of cockles could be deemed to have "no likely significant effect" on the SAC. If not, then a full Appropriate Assessment will be necessary, and this would require considerable staff time to prepare.

1.4 It is suggested that the proposal should be approved provided that the Committee does not have to prepare an Appropriate Assessment, given suitable stocks. If an Appropriate Assessment is necessary, then it is suggested that the applicant should be required to obtain the necessary conservation advice and to prepare an assessment that can be adopted with a minimum of time commitment by the Committee’s staff.