Cockle fishery open in The Wash

Eastern IFCA completed the 2019 cockle stock surveys in May of 2019. The results informed a habitat regulation assessment which considered whether a cockle fishery within The Wash would adversely impact the conservation aspects of the area.

The assessment concluded that, with mitigation in the form of management measures, the Wash could support a cockle fishery in 2019 whilst meeting the conservation objectives of the site.

Eastern IFCA consulted with Wash cockle fishers in developing the measures including at an industry meeting held on the 7^th June 2019.

The fisheries open as of 06:30 on the 17^th June. The total allowable catch for the Wash Fishery Order 1992 fishery is 4,004 tonnes and 323 tonnes in the Wash Restricted Area (under the Wash Emergency Byelaw 2018).

Fishing within the fisheries is restricted to those with a Wash Fishery Order Licence – click here for more information.

Management measures

Please click on the links below for more information about the 2019 cockle fisheries in The Wash including the management measures, open and closed areas and the Code of Best Practice.