The Seed mussel fishery at South America will open to Byelaw 3 permit holders for hand gathering on 20/08/20. The authorisation is available to view and download below. Click here to download the Authorisation Click here to view the HRA   AUTHORISATION TO FISH UNDERSIZED MUSSELS FROM SOUTH AMERICA 2020 All Current NWIFCA Byelaw 3 Permit Holders With effect from: 20/08/2020 Expiry Date: 18/09/2020 All current Byelaw 3 permit holders are hereby authorised, under Byelaw 3, paragraph 6 (Minimum Sizes) to fish undersized mussels from South America, in the permitted fishing and transiting area as defined in paragraph 2 and illustrated in Annex A, and are responsible for complying with the conditions given below at paragraph 1. 1. Conditions of Authorisation This authorisation is issued subject to the following conditions. (a)        It is only valid for the period from 20/08/2020 to 18/09/2020. (b)        That fishing for seed mussel is only authorised west of the line B-C as defined in para. 2 and illustrated in Annex A. (c)        That the mussels shall only be gathered by hand or with a rake. (d)        The NWIFCA will close the fishery during periods of prolonged cold weather. (e)        The authorisation is only valid for…

At the meeting of the NWIFCA’s Technical Science and Byelaws Sub-Committee 11th August, approval was given for the opening of the following cockle fisheries from 1st September in Morecambe Bay: Newbiggin, Leven Sands, Flookburgh, Pilling Sands. The stock is of a low level quantity. Aldingham will remain closed until classified, which  expected mid October. A decision on Leasowe cockle bed will be announced next week. The recommendation is that it should be closed under NWSFC Byelaw 13a. Stock levels are below those required for bird food mitigation for overwintering oystercatchers and the fishery would not be Habitats Regulations compliant. All other cockle beds within the District will be closed under NWSFC Byelaw 13a and CSFC Byelaw 18 from 1st September.

Heysham Flat Seed Mussel Fishery will open to Byelaw 3 permit holders on 3rd August 2020 and will run until 31st December 2020, with the exception of bank holiday Monday (31st August 2020). The authorisation is posted below. Access permits must be obtained from Lancaster City Council to attend the fishery. Heysham Flat Seed Mussel Fishery Authorisation Authorisation to Fish Undersized Mussels from Heysham Flat Skear 2020   All current NWIFCA Byelaw 3 Permit Holders Date: 22/07/20 With effect from: 03/08/20 Expiry Date: 31/12/20 All current Byelaw 3 permit holders are hereby authorised, under Byelaw 3, paragraph 6 (Minimum Sizes) to fish undersized mussels from Heysham Flat, in the permitted fishing and transiting area as defined in paragraph 2 and illustrated in Annex A, and are responsible for complying with the conditions given below at paragraph 1. 1. Conditions of Authorisation This authorisation is issued subject to the following conditions. (a) It is only valid for the period from 03/08/2020 to 31/12/2020, excluding Bank Holiday Monday 31st August 2020. (b) That the mussels shall only be gathered by hand or with a rake. (c) That fishing shall take place only from Monday to Friday inclusive, during daylight hours, defined as…

Following requests from industry and consultation with other relevant agencies the cockle fishery at Leasowe on the Wirral will be open for 6 days a week, EXCLUDING Saturdays, from 00.01 hrs on Sunday 16th February 2020 until the end of April. The requirement to submit returns has been amended to monthly no later than the 5th of the following month. The Total Allowable Catch remains the same at 400 tonnes. Click here to view the authorisation    

The authorisation has been changed for Leasowe to enable fishing Monday to Friday. Weekly returns are required by 5pm Monday the week after fishing. Please see the amended authorisation below: Updated Leasowe Cockle Fishery Authorisation  

The NWIFCA Technical Science and Byelaws Sub-committee has approved the authorisation of a restricted cockle fishery at Leasowe cockle bed, North Wirral Foreshore from Monday 30th September. All current NWIFCA Byelaw 3 permit holders must ensure they understand the conditions under which they are authorised to gather cockles by hand. Gathering of cockles by any other person is not authorised and is a breach of NWSFC Byelaw 13A and NWIFCA Byelaw 3. The fishery is only open 3 days each week (Monday to Wednesday). Weekly returns are required by Thursday 1700hrs each week. A Total Allowable Catch of 400 tonnes has been set to ensure there is sufficient cockle food resource remaining from the fishery for protected overwintering bird species. Click here to view the full authorisation. Access Permits You must obtain access permits from Safe Water to use your quad bike. The contact details for Safe Water are listed below: Safe Water Training Sea School Ltd. 68 Victoria Parade New Brighton Wirral CH45 2PH Telephone: 0151 630 0466 E-Mail: [email protected]

The Heysham Flat Seed Mussel fishery will open under authorisation for all Byelaw 3 permit holders on 22/7/19. All gatherers must read the authorisation available below and for download here. Access permits are available from Lancaster City Council. AUTHORISATION TO FISH UNDERSIZED MUSSELS FROM HEYSHAM FLAT SKEAR 2019 All current Byelaw 3 permit holders are hereby authorised, under Byelaw 3, paragraph 6 (Minimum Sizes) to fish undersized mussels from Heysham Flat, in the permitted fishing and transiting area as defined in paragraph 2 and illustrated in Annex A, and are responsible for complying with the conditions given below at paragraph 1. 1. Conditions of Authorisation This authorisation is issued subject to the following conditions: (a) It is only valid for the period from 22/07/2019 to 31/12/2019, excluding Bank Holiday Monday 26th August 2019. (b) That the mussels shall only be gathered by hand or with a rake. (c) That fishing shall take place only from Monday to Friday inclusive, during daylight hours, defined as one hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset. (d) The NWIFCA will close the fishery during periods of prolonged cold weather. (e) The authorisation is only valid for current Byelaw 3 permit holders. It does not…

The Marine Management Organisation’s West of Walney Marine Conservation Zone (Specified Area) Bottom Towed Fishing Gear Byelaw 2018 was signed off by Defra on 4th June 2019. The Byelaw will come into force on 4th July 2019. You can read the full text of the byelaw on the MMO’s website here.

Blue Marine Foundation has published a study calling for national management of the common whelk. The study shows that whelks are caught before they have the chance to reproduce as whelks reach maturity at different sizes in different areas. In England, the size of maturity varies between 45mm up to 78mm depending on where they are located. It also found that there is very little mixing between stocks around the UK. For more information you can read the full study on the Blue Marine Foundations website here.

Retained Bass must be over the minimum sized of 42cm. For more information on the current bass measures visit the MMO’s bass guidance page.

North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (NWIFCA) is calling for fishermen and women to follow a Voluntary Closure on placing nets around St Bees starting 18th March 2019. Although thankfully not a common occurrence, there have been distressing reports in the past of numbers of birds getting caught up in the nets and drowning. Obviously no one wants or intends this, and fishers themselves have been deeply upset when it has occurred. As fisheries regulators the NWIFCA has a duty to ensure that netting is not having a damaging effect on birds. The breeding season is the crucial time for seabirds such as razorbills and guillemots nesting on the cliffs at St Bees. Last year the NWIFCA brought in the Voluntary Closure for the first time and can report 100% compliance from both commercial and recreational fishers. The support of all allows the Authority to feel confident in implementing the closure again this year as a measure to protect the breeding birds and their young while they are in the area. St Bees is an important cliff habitat for breeding seabirds, and is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It also lies within the Cumbria Coast…