North Western & North Wales Sea Fisheries Committee (the Committee) is responsible for the management of a number of important areas for shellfishing, the largest being Morecambe Bay.

Due to changing economics over recent years, managing the district’s shellfisheries through byelaws alone has become increasingly difficult and burdensome in terms of enforcement and administration. This is particularly so in the case of mussels and cockles in Morecambe Bay.

It is the Committee’s intention, therefore, to apply for a Regulating Order for the Bay to enable us to control fishing effort and better balance the interests of stakeholders. This will lead to a safer, better managed, and more sustainable fishery.

Regulating Orders are granted to a statutory authority under the Sea Fisheries (Shellfish) Act 1967 to allow shellfishing activities in an area to be licensed and controlled for the benefit of the fishery.

The intended Order will cover the whole of Morecambe Bay seaward from Mean High Water to the line shown on the map. It will apply to all bivalve shellfish, such as cockles, mussels, oysters and clams, to ensure that future developments in the fishery can be managed appropriately. Fishing for finned fish will not be affected under the Order.

The management regime under the Order would essentially follow the principles established for the fishery under byelaw for things such as minimum landing sizes, methods of fishing and the opening and closing of the fishery.

However, the existing shellfish permit scheme will be replaced and a limited entry licensing system established to control fishing intensity. A licence levy will enable the Committee to recover administration and enforcement overheads relating to the Order as well as those related to monitoring, researching and developing the fishery.

To assist the Committee in promoting development of and investment into the fishery with attendant benefits to the local economy, further licences or leases may be granted allow fishermen exclusive rights to cultivate shellfish within smaller, specifically negotiated areas. These are known as "Several Areas".

There is already a small Regulating Order for mussels covering an area south and east of Foulney Twist and this will be included under the new Order.

As part of the procedure in applying for a Regulating Order the Committee is wishes to obtain the views of all concerned but most importantly those of the commercial fishermen.

Preliminary consultation with the stakeholders has revealed a high degree of support for the Order in the form outlined above. Providing the consent of landowners can be secured, the next step is to apply to DEFRA to produce a Draft Order. This will be subject to further consultation and, if there are no significant objections, approved by the Fisheries Minister and laid before Parliament to become law.

The Committee feels the earliest establishment of an Order is now essential to enabling a safe and sustainable fishery for shellfish in Morecambe Bay and therefore asks your support in its endeavours by sending us your completed questionnaire and sharing your views. We look forward to hearing from you.

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