The National Grid is seeking your views on the proposed North West Coast Connections Project. The project will connect and export the electricity that will be generated by the proposed Moorside Nuclear Power Station. Formal consultations on this project are running for ten weeks from 28th October 2016 to 6th January 2017 with 30 consultation events being held up and down the route. Further information about the North West Coastal Connections Project and the consultation process can be found at www.northwestcoastconnections.com.

Recent Cockle Survey Results Following presentation of cockle survey results (link), at the Bivalve Mollusc Working Group on Monday 10th October, an agreement was reached by all sectors at the meeting to recommend opening Pilling Sands and Leven Sands cockle beds to hand-gathering of cockles. Officers are seeking your views on this recommendation to take to the TSB meeting on 1st November, where the Authority will decide on this recommendation.  Please email your views to [email protected] and state clearly whether you think: A – Pilling Sands should be opened – Yes / No – plus comments B – Leven Sands should be opened – Yes / No – plus comments

The Angling Trust The Angling Improvement Fund was launched in January 2015 when £65,000 of rod licence money was allocated for angling organisations to improve facilities, buy equipment and do other projects in support of the National Angling Strategy. Another £50,000 was made available in summer 2015 followed by £200,000 at the start of 2016. All in all, no less than 85 awards of up to £5,000 have been made so far – a great give-back to angling! The Fund ensures that money received from your Environment Agency rod licence goes straight back into the sport you love… read more

Family fishermen handed suspended sentence.  Click here for more information

The MMO is a data driven organisation. We share the register of data we hold and publish the data we create so that anyone can see and use it themselves.   Our understanding of available data and its context forms a key part of the evidence on which we build our decisions and marine plan policies. As part of our work towards greater transparency we have been proactively publishing our reports and data since 2010. We also hold other people’s data, these are not ours to share but we do publish a list to let you know what we have and who we got it from. We are also able to display much of these data visually on our Marine Information System.   To read more please click here

With the next heat wave reported to arrive, it is a perfect opportunity to get out and enjoy some of the amazing marine wildlife around the English coast. But our enjoyment can quickly lead to the distress of the animals we are there to see. To read more, please click here

Cockle surveys across the District have shown that although there are cockle beds with dense stocks, the majority of this stock has not yet reached size. Informal consultation with Byelaw 3 permit holders shows that there is support for a recommendation NOT to open the beds at the end of the Seasonal Closure, but to allow it to grow on. Science officers will re-survey the beds in September, and provide the Authority with the results. This was discussed with the Bivalve Mollusc Working Group on 8th August where all stakeholders agreed to this course of action. Following approval by the Technical, Science and Byelaws Sub-committee meeting on 9th August NWSFC Byelaw 13a and CSFC Byelaw 18 Closures will be instigated on the cockle beds within the District from 00.01hrs on 1st September, subject to review. Any opening of the cockle beds will be subject to Habitats Regulations Assessment.

The seed mussel dredge fishery in North Morecambe Bay (locally known as South America and Falklands mussel beds) is to be extended from 00:01 on 14/08/2016. The original area (Area A) is 1180 hectares and was opened on 11/07/2016. The extension area (Area B) is 66.28 hectares will be open at 00:01 on 14/08/2016. Fishers wishing to fish in Area B are requested to sign and abide to the Code of Practice (CoP) which has been agreed amongst stakeholders and stakeholders interest groups, this CoP can be viewed/downloaded here – Code of Practice – Seed Mussel Dredge 11-08-16 FINAL. The co-ordinates and a map of this seed mussel dredge fishery can be viewed below: . To express an interest in prosecuting this seed mussel dredge fishery, please email [email protected] (preferred) or telephone 01524 727970 to request an application form.

Guidance on Seal watching – Marine Developments The summer weather may tempt you towards the coast and learning more about the marine environment. When doing so it’s important you consider both your own safety and that of any animals you may encounter. For more information please click on the link within the title above.

Proposals are currently being developed to a) extend the existing subtidal South America and Falklands seed mussel dredge authorisation box (see South America and Falklands HRA below for information on the current fishery) and b) to open designated intertidal areas at Perch Scar and Black Scar to seed mussel dredge fishing. These proposals will be discussed in full with stakeholders and stakeholder interest groups at the BMWG meeting on Monday 8th August and at the Technical, Scientific and Byelaw (TSB) meeting on Tuesday 9th August. To express an interest in persecuting any of these seed mussel fisheries, by dredge, or hand gathering (byelaw 3 permit holders only), please email [email protected] (preferred), telephone 01524 727970 and/or contact your BMWG or TSB representative to voice your interest at the meeting(s).  

Marking National Marine Week 2016 – Marine Developments National Marine Week is “a celebration of the wonderfully varied wildlife we have in our seas”. It was initiated by the Wildlife Trusts, who have published a range of resources on their website, along with organising events taking place around the coast of the UK.

Access to more data will help protect our seas – Marine Developments This week is national marine week. Celebrating everything from sharks to shrimps to rocky shores, it’s a great reminder of the amazing sea life we have here. It also reminds us of how important our marine protected areas (MPA) are.