Following discussion and approval by NWIFCA Technical Science and Byelaws Sub-committee (TSB) there are a number of potential seed mussel fisheries within Morecambe Bay. Fisheries are dependent of the stock being putting down significant mud, becoming very loose, in imminent risk of being washed away, and are subject to HRA. The potential fisheries are: A permitted dredge fishery at Perch and Black Scar, Fleetwood. An authorised NWIFCA byelaw 3 hand gathered fishery at Heysham Flat, Morecambe. An authorised NWIFCA byelaw 3 hand gathered and permitted dredge fishery at South America mussel bed, North Morecambe Bay. A permitted dredge fishery at Falklands mussel bed, North Morecambe Bay. Seed mussel in Morecambe Bay have a history of settling densely, growing rapidly, becoming unstable and washing away through natural processes in a matter of weeks. Officers continue to monitor the stock and providing the mussel puts down sufficient mud to ensure protection of the cobble substrate from hand gathering and dredging and the mussel is in imminent risk of being washed away, the Authority will issue an authorisation to all NWIFCA byelaw 3 permit holders to take seed by hand and issue permits to dredge in accordance with the ‘NWIFCA Restrictions on the…

Defra is launching two calls for evidence from 12 July 2021 to 31 August 2021 to capture views from the fishing sector, wider fishing community and other relevant stakeholders on: latent capacity in the over 10m scallop and shellfish sector fleets; and impacts of greater restrictions for the under 15m scallop fleet in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Defra is working closely with the Scallop Industry Consultation Group and the Shellfish Industry Advisory Group and its species-specific sub-groups, to develop future management proposals in the scallop and shellfish sectors, as part of a wider programme of work of Government/industry collaboration. These industry groups have identified scallop and shellfish latent capacity in the over 10m fleet and the current fishing arrangements for the under 15m scallop fleet as policy areas that require further consideration. A better understanding of the evidence will help inform management approaches. Your responses to the questions asked in the two calls for evidence will help us gather information around the risks these two policy areas present to the sustainability of the stocks (king scallops, crabs, lobsters and crawfish); identify challenges the sectors are facing; and collect the evidence we need to help us consider future management measures…

The report titled “Presence of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and other species in proposed bass nursery areas”, is now available from the Government’s website. Click here to access the report

The data from the recent cockle surveys within Morecambe Bay has now been collated and an interim report has been circulated to the members of the Technical, Science and Byelaws Committee. A copy of the report can be found below: Cockle Survey Report June 2021

NWIFCA are currently looking at the logistics of holding an extraordinary TSB under the current government restriction as requested by NWIFCA members to take place before the postponed quarterly meeting on 6th July. The meeting is to consider if the shellfish stocks around Morecambe Bay are sufficient to open a fishery and if it could be possible to open any potential cockle fisheries earlier than the usual date of 1 September. Further details should a meeting be possible will be posted on the website. This is important because Brexit has ended the EU market for live cockles from cockle beds with class B classification unless further purified / depurated / heat treated.  Cockle beds in Morecambe Bay are classified as B or below. We are very sympathetic to the impact of brexit on the local shellfish industry and are working to mitigate the damage to some extent. To increase outlets for cockles, in particular canning, we are urgently surveying to assess whether sufficient stock is present to allow a fishery to open earlier than usual. We understand that opening cockle beds (particularly Pilling sands) in July and August when meat content is highest may assist the canning market. Preparatory work…

On May 7th 2021 legislation allowing for virtual local government meetings expired. Therefore, the proposed meeting to be held on 18th May 2021 should be held at a physical location. Unfortunately as a Covid secure location could not be found in time, the meeting has had to be cancelled.

All byelaw 3 permit holders are reminded that the cockle closed season commences on 1 May. No cockle fishing in the District is permitted  from 1 May to 31 August 2021. Fishing for mussel above the Minimum Conservation Reference Size (45mm length) is permitted. Fishing for undersize (seed) mussel is not permitted anywhere in the District. Seed mussel areas may be opened later in the year subject to survey and HRA. Announcements of openings will be  on the website as usual. Following the recent consultation on whether to allow cockle fishing in May, the Authority has considered responses from byelaw 3 permit holders and concluded that all cockle beds should shut as planned on 1st May 2021. Feedback from permit holders in the consultation will be discussed at the Technical, Science and Byelaws Subcommittee on Tuesday 18th May. NWIFCA will continue to assess the cockle stocks within the district and further consider management options for any potential opening of cockle beds for the 2021/2022 season.

At the request of the Authority, NWIFCA officers are consulting Byelaw 3 permit holders on their views regarding leaving open cockle beds in the District until the 31st May 2021. This is as a result over external pressures faced by industry during the coronavirus pandemic and post EU exit. This would only apply to beds currently open (Newbiggin, Flookburgh, Leven and Pilling) and would be subject to stock assessments, HRA (Habitats Regulation Assessment) and approval by the TSB committee. There may be the need to have fishing restrictions to ensure the beds are not over exploited. NWIFCA will continue to assess the cockle stocks within the district and further consider management options for any potential opening of cockle beds for the 2021/2022 season, which may involve seeking your views again. Please could you submit your response by email to [email protected] by Friday 9th April. Please state clearly in the email, your name and if Newbiggin, Flookburgh, Leven and Pilling should remain open until 31st May 2021 or close on the 1st May 2021.

On 18th March 2021 at Liverpool Magistrates, Jones Trawlers Ltd and Mr Liam Jones were fined a combined total of £48,500 for dredging without relevant authority in the Liverpool Bay area following an earlier guilty plea.  In February and March 2019, the scallop dredger “Kingfisher” towed scalloping gear into the NWIFCA District and the Liverpool Bay Special Protection Area, before landing catches to North Wales. Following an investigation, both defendants were charged on four counts of dredging without a permit. The sea bed habitats within the Liverpool Bay Special Protection Area are home to numerous ecologically important benthic species such as molluscs, sponges and star fish which support the designated bird species within the area. Protected birds include the Red-throated diver which is likely to have been present in the area feeding before migrating back to Arctic breeding grounds. To date dredging has not been permitted in the area and it is estimated that the seabed could take up to two years to recover from the offences.  District Judge Shaw during sentencing stated “Given the specialist nature of their business its scale and experience together with the previous convictions which have been referred to and the fact that whilst this…

Between 1st March and 30th November (inclusive) a recreational fisher can retain two size (42cm or larger) European seabass per day. No European seabass can be taken if caught by fixed nets. These rules apply if you are fishing from a boat or from the shore. Any additional Euoprean seabass caught must be returned immediately. Bass must be handled carefully to ensure a high survival rate of released fish. Anglers are advised to carry forceps or long-nosed pliers to assist removal of hooks and to support fish in the water until they are able to swim away.

Grants of up to £2 million each are now available to help the nation build back greener from the coronavirus pandemic, the government announced on Tuesday 9 March. The second round of the Green Recovery Challenge fund will award up to £40 million in grants to environmental charities and their partners across England to create and retain jobs while restoring nature and tackling climate change. All projects must contribute to at least one of the following themes of the Green Recovery Challenge Fund: nature conservation and restoration; nature-based solutions, particularly focused on climate change mitigation and adaptation; and, connecting people with nature. Almost £40 million was awarded in November in the first round to 68 projects that will help to restore damaged habitats such as moorlands, wetlands and forests – which will see over 800,000 trees planted. The projects will also support conservation work and help to improve education about the environment. The fund will be delivered by the National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England, the Forestry Commission and the Environment Agency. For grants of over £250,000, applicants must submit an expression of interest by 22 March and if successful will be invited to submit a full application. The…

About the Scheme The Seafood Response Fund (SRF) is designed to help UK fishing and shellfish aquaculture businesses that have been affected by the downturn of export and domestic markets for fish and shellfish due to the coronavirus pandemic and/or disruption to seafood exports earlier this year. The SRF will directly contribute towards the fixed business costs of approximately 2500 eligible fishing and shellfish aquaculture businesses. It will be administered by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs (Defra). Who is Eligible To be eligible for the Seafood Response Fund (SRF) you must be one of the following: A qualifying business within the UK catching sector A qualifying shellfish business within the UK aquaculture sector Qualifying Businesses – Catching Sector Qualifying fishing businesses must meet the following criteria: They must be the owner of a fishing vessel of under 40m in overall length registered in the UK Vessels must be licenced to fish by the relevant UK fisheries administration in which they are primarily administered. Vessels administered by Crown Dependencies or Overseas Territories are not included within this scheme. The vessel must be currently registered with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency…