UNDER REVIEW: Pilling Cockle Fishery

North Western IFCA is currently keeping the cockle fishery at Pilling, Lancashire under review in terms of the Authority’s legal obligations and the appropriateness of the fishery remaining open.

An assessment of the amount of undersized cockle being taken from the fishery will be made by officers in the coming days, with a view to determining our compliance with The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (as amended), and the associated Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA). We will also need to review whether it is realistic to expect our Byelaw 3 permit holders fishing at Pilling to be able to comply with the minimum size regulations in place.

In the intervening period, permit holders fishing at Pilling should make every effort to minimise the amounts of undersized cockle they are taking off the bed. This can be achieved by various means, including riddling and relocating to more appropriate points on the bed where undersized quantities are lower.