Wash Cockle Fishery 2024

The Authority managed cockle and mussel fisheries in The Wash under the Wash Fishery Order 1992 until its expiry on 3 January 2023.  The Authority developed a byelaw to manage the fisheries, the Wash Cockle and Mussel Byelaw 2021, which is yet to come into effect.  To enable cockle and mussel fisheries pending the confirmation of the byelaw, the Authority is managing the fisheries under interim management measures using Byelaw 8, with a closure of The Wash to cockle and mussel fishing and subsequent issuing of exemptions to provide access with conditions attached to ensure fishing is within acceptable environmental parameters.

Access to the fishery is restricted to those who had access under the Wash Fishery Order and in accordance with associated policies.

For more information about the transition from the Wash Fishery Order to the Wash Cockle and Mussel Byelaw, please click here.

Wash Cockle Fishery 2024

The 2024 intertidal cockle survey identified that the stocks are sufficient to enable a fishery.  Management measures were developed through consideration of the Cockle Fishery Management Plan and outputs from a Habitat Regulations Assessment and consultation with fishing industry.

Key Management measures

• Access to the fishery is restricted to those who had access under the Wash Fishery Order 1992 and in accordance with the associated policies.
• The 2024 Wash Cockle fishery is open as of 0400hrs on 20 June 2024
• The fishery is hand-worked only.
• The daily catch restriction is 2 tonnes per day
• Closed areas are in place to protect seal haul-out sites, areas of high density juvenile cockles and private shellfish lays.
• Fishing activity is restricted to the published operating times.

The full set of management measures, including charts and coordinates of closed areas are available by clicking the link in the relevant information section below.

Relevant Information

• Cockle Stock Survey 2024 Report
• Consultation outcome document
• Management measures (exemption conditions)
• Code of Best practice

On application, the Authority will consider issuing exemption from the dual fishing prohibition to enable fishers to operate within the Wash re-laying dredge fishery and the hand—work cockle fishery on the same calendar day.  Please contact Eastern IFCA to apply for such an exemption.