Pilling Cockle Fishery Closed

The Pilling cockle fishery is closed with immediate effect until further notice.

In consultation with the Chair of the Authority, the CEO has taken this decision after considering inspection data from the first week of the fishery. This highlighted some significant issues with the amount of undersized cockle being taken off the bed. Based on 26 separate inspections carried out by officers in the first four days of the fishery, the average percentage of undersized being taken off by gatherers as a proportion of their entire catch was 21%. It is therefore estimated that over 30 tonnes of undersized cockle has come off Pilling in the first week. This does not represent a sustainable fishery and, therefore, in order to comply with our obligations under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 and The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, the fishery must be closed.

The Authority will now work with our partners at Natural England to review what options there are for a fishery at Pilling that would comply with our statutory obligations. Further information will be provided in due course.

If you are a Byelaw 3 permit holder or a buyer of cockles, please do not attempt to access the fishery until further notice. Officers will be present at Pilling over the coming days to enforce this closure.

If you require any further information, please contact the Authority.