Temporary Closure of Wash Cockle Fishery

The Wash Cockle Fishery has been closed temporarily from 03.30hrs on Friday 9 January.  This closure is required due to the current period of prolonged severe cold weather.  It is anticipated subject to favourable weather conditions the fishery would reopen as per the published opening times on Monday 19 January 2026.

The Wash cockle fishery operates within a highly sensitive Special Protection Area (SPA) designated in part for the protection of over-wintering birds which rely on the site for food resources during winter.

It is a long established principle within the HRA that the fishery will close during periods of ‘severe weather’ which in this case relates to consistently low temperatures. In these conditions, birds have to expend additional energy foraging for food and the effect of disturbance by human presence compounds this potentially leading to starvation. The measure has been in place since at least 2008 and is analogous with measures implemented on wildfowlers during severe weather.