1.1 At the Scientific and Byelaws Sub-Committee meeting in April 2007 it was resolved to renew the 3 previously agreed experimental areas in Morecambe Bay, and to authorise a new experimental area in the north Walney Channel, all subject to suitable agreement with stakeholders.

1.2 Unfortunately, there has been extremely poor mussel spatfall in Morecambe Bay in 2007. Only small quantities of spat mussels have been found, and none of the usual ephemeral beds, such as South America Skear, have received a settlement. This is in sharp contrast to 2006, which saw one of the heaviest mussel spatfalls on record.

1.3 As a result, there has been no suitable seed resource to relay on the experimental areas in 2007, and it now looks as though any experimental mussel cultivation will have to wait until 2008.

2.1 In 2006, the relaying of up to 1800 tonnes of small mussels from the South America skear into the Walney Channel along Foulney Twist was authorised. This was for over-wintering of the mussels, and a condition was imposed by English Nature (now Natural England) that the mussels should be removed in 2007, so as not to encourage illegitimate vehicular access across Foulney Island. It now seems that only 500 tonnes of mussels were relayed in the area. These mussels were harvested by dredging in the summer of 2007, and some 500 tonnes were recovered and taken to the Menai Strait.

2.2 In 2006, 750 tonnes of Morecambe Bay mussels were relayed at Conwy, with the intention that half should be taken to the Menai Strait Several Fishery. This operation has not been very successful. Early losses were apparent from the relaying at North Deep. An area relayed on the Morfa bed showed very good initial results however there were very heavy losses from this area early in 2007. The mussels that did persist were mixed in with larger, native Conwy mussels, and were not suitable for the Menai Strait fishery. Enough mussels remained for 100 tonnes of small mussels to be taken to the Menai Strait, and for 150 tonnes of mixed size to be relaid in the Conwy river channel near Green Island.

2.3 In April and May 2007, helicopter surveys of north Morecambe Bay showed that a significant amount of the 2006 spatfall had persisted over the winter period in offshore, virtually sublittoral locations. These mussels were being heavily predated by enormous swarms of starfish. Since their loss was imminent, rapid consultation with Natural England took place, and authorisations were issued to harvest them by dredging. The quality and quantity that could be recovered by dredging was poor, and the large vessels from the Menai Strait did not fish the stock for long. However, it did provide a useful fishery for one smaller local boat until the authorisation expired in mid July.