Morecambe Bay Regulating & Several Order
Questionnaire for Commercial Fishermen
North Western & North Wales Sea Fisheries Committee intends to apply for a Regulating Order to govern shell fishing in Morecambe Bay. As part of the consultation process, this questionnaire is designed to give commercial fishermen an input into the draft proposal.
If a Regulating Order was granted for Morecambe Bay it would mean only a
limited number of permits (licences) would be issued. What method should be
used to allocate licences?
a) First come, first served, no track record required
b) First come, first served, track record required
c) Scored points system based on previous participation in this and other
fisheries
d) Auction
e) Lottery
f) Other (please specify)
Should there be separate licences for cockles and mussels?
a) Yes
b) No
How many licences should be issued?
| Cockles |
Mussels | Combined |
| a) Less than 50 |
a) Less than 50 | a) Less than 50 |
| b) 50 150 |
b) 50 150 |
b) 50 150 |
| c)150 250 |
c)150 250 |
c)150 250 |
| d) 250 350 |
d) 250 350 |
d) 250 350 |
| e) More than 350 |
e) More than 350 |
e) More than 350 |
How long should a licence last for?
Should licences be transferable?
a) Yes
b) No
Should mechanical harvesting be allowed?
a) Yes
b) No
If so which methods?
| Cockles |
Mussels |
| a) wet tractor dredge |
a) boat dredge (for seed) |
| b) dry tractor dredge |
b) boat dredge (for size) |
| c) boat dredge (suction) |
|
| Other (please specify) |
Under a Regulating Order the Committee would be allowed to charge a levy
that can be used for the benefit and improvement of the Morecambe Bay fishery.
Depending on method, how much should a licence cost?
Handgathering
| Cockles |
Mussels | Combined |
| a) less than £100 |
a) less than £100 |
a) less than £100 |
| b) £100 - £250 |
b) £100 - £250 |
b) £100 - £250 |
| c) £250 - £500 |
c) £250 - £500 |
c) £250 - £500 |
| d) £500 - £750 |
d) £500 - £750 |
d) £500 - £750 |
| e) More than £750 |
e) More than £750 |
e) More than £750 |
| If e) how much? |
||
| Cockles |
Mussels | Combined |
Mechanical Methods
| Cockles |
Mussels | Combined |
| a) less than £100 |
a) less than £100 |
a) less than £100 |
| b) £100 - £250 |
b) £100 - £250 |
b) £100 - £250 |
| c) £250 - £500 |
c) £250 - £500 |
c) £250 - £500 |
| d) £500 - £750 |
d) £500 - £750 |
d) £500 - £750 |
| e) More than £750 |
e) More than £750 |
e) More than £750 |
| If e) how much? |
||
| Cockles |
Mussels | Combined |
What proportion of licences, if any, should be available for new entrants?
a) Nil
b) less than 5%
c) 5%-10%
d) 10% - 20%
What method should be used to allocate licences for new entrants?
a) Waiting list, first come, first served, no track record required
b) Waiting list, first come, first served, track record required
c) Waiting list, scored points system
d) Auction
e) Lottery
f) Via an apprenticeship scheme
Should fishing at night be allowed?
a) Yes
b) No
If no, between which hours should be fishing be allowed?
a.m. and p.m.
Should weekend fishing be allowed?
a) Yes
b) No
Should the seasonal closure for cockles remain?
a) Yes
b) No
If so, how long should it last and when should it start?
months from the start of .
Should there be a seasonal closure for mussels (excluding seed)?
a) Yes
b) No
Should there be designated access points?
a) Yes
b) No
Should there be designated landing points?
a) Yes
b) No
How often should catch returns be submitted?
a) Daily
b) Weekly
c) Monthly
d) Quarterly
e) Annually
Should there be restrictions on the type of vehicles allowed onto the
sands?
a) Yes
b) No
If so, which types should be allowed?
a) Tractors
b) Four wheel drive vehicles (4 x 4s/SUVs)
c) Non four wheel drive vehicles (vans and cars)
d) ATVs
e) Other (please specify)
Should the current minimum landing sizes be maintained?
| Cockles |
Mussels |
| a) Yes | a) Yes |
| b) No | b) No |
If not, what should they be larger or smaller?
| Cockles |
Mussels |
What allowance should be set for non-licence holders personal consumption?
a) none
b) 1kg per day
c) 2kg per day
d) 5kg per day
e) 10kg per day
Additional comments.
Please return your completed questionnaire by 31st March 2007 to:
North Western & North Western & North Wales Sea Fisheries Committee
University of Lancaster
Bailrigg
Lancaster
LA1 4YY