Consultation: Wash Cockle and Mussel Fishery Fee Changes

Permit fees are payable for fishing within the Wash cockle and mussel fisheries to achieve 50% cost recovery for the Authority for managing the fisheries, which includes undertaking the annual surveys. The fees, which were set in 2019, were reviewed  in December 2025 and it was identified that, as a consequence of increasing costs since 2019, the fees are no longer achieving 50% cost recovery. As such, the Authority has agreed in principle to increase fees  pending consideration of impacts on fishing industry.

The Authority would like feedback from Wash cockle and mussel fishermen on the potential impact of fee increases. Responses to this consultation must be received by Eastern IFCA by midday on Friday 15 May 2026. To respond to this consultation and for more information, please click here to view the Wash Cockle and Mussel Byelaw Fees consultation page