"Over the last 72 hours there has been a high level of media coverage of cockle fishing on Traeth Lavan on the Menai Strait, North Wales. The area is an historical cockle fishery which occasionaly yields a modest harvest.

Fishing re-commenced on September 1st 2006 following the expiry of the annual seasonal closure which applies to cockle fishing throughout the whole of the NWNWSFC District. In anticipation of large numbers of gathers arriving to fish a relatively small bed, a multi-agency operation was put in place to minimise the environmental and social impact. Approximately 260 gatherers arrived expecting to find bountiful stocks akin to those of Morecambe Bay in 2002, but within days conceeded that NWNWSFC statements of a low but fishable stock were correct, and numbers rapidly declined to approximatley 100. By November the number had reduced to an average of 45, and that number has continued to date.

There are media reports of 100 gatherers working day and night, and making £40 per bag. This inaccurate reporting serves only to encourage more gatherers to join in the non existant bonanza harvest. Actual activity has been recorded as an average 40 persons working mostly the daylight tides,

The media is also reporting that the Countryside Council for Wales has called for the beds to be closed to cockle fishing due to environmental damage at the access point onto the sands. Principal Fishery Officer Martyn Boyce said: " I have called another multi-agency meeting in an attempt to resolve the conflict between environmental groups and the lawful fishing operation which is occuring in a public fishery. We take our environmental responsibilities very seriously, but the legislation pertaining to intertidal fisheries is fragmented, outdated, and for the most part currently non-existant. Sea Fisheries Committees (SFCs)throughout Wales and England have for a number of years been pressing Government to give SFCs modernised and effective powers. We are told that a White Paper being released next month will outline these modernised powers for the SFCs in England, whilst the future of the two Welsh SFCs and inshore fisheries management has yet to be determined. However we will continue to work closely with other agencies in an attempt to meet their aspirations. "

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