Wash Mussel Fishery 2025

Wash Mussel Fishery 2025

The Authority has agreed to open Harvestable and Re-laying mussel fisheries in The Wash.  The harvestable mussel fishery will open at 0001hrs on Wednesday 29 January 2025. Further consideration is being given to a re-laying fishery which would open in Spring 2025.  This page explains how to access the fishery and the associated management measures.

Access

The Wash is closed to all mussel and cockle fishing without an exemption. To apply for an exemption, please complete and return this application form.

Access to the fishery is restricted to those who had access under the Wash Fishery Order and in accordance with associated policies. Persons who are eligible for an exemption have been contacted to inform them about the fishery.

Wash Harvestable Mussel Fishery 2025

The 2024 mussel stock assessment identified that the stocks were sufficient to enable a harvestable mussel fishery (a fishery which targets adult mussels) for the first time since 2007.  Management measures for the fishery have been developed in accordance with the mussel fishery management policies and in consultation with fishery stakeholders and Natural England.  The measures are intended to ensure that the fishery is sustainable and operates within environmental parameters.

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.
  • Mussel dredges must be checked, approved and tagged prior to their use. A date and time will be arranged to carry out the inspection once an application is received.
  • The 2025 harvestable mussel fishery will be open from 0001hrs on Wednesday 29 January 2025.
  • The fishery is open to both dredging and hand-working.
  • The Total allowable catch for the dredge fishery is 1,000 tonnes.
  • The Total Allowable Catch for the hand-work fishery is 100 tonnes.
  • The fishery is restricted to certain open beds only (coordinates within exemption conditions below).
  • The mussel bed referred to as ‘Main End’ is open to Hand-working only.  All other open beds are open to both dredging and hand-working.
  • Fishers must notify the Authority of their intention to fish in advance of each trip.
  • The daily catch restriction is 4 tonnes per day.
  • The minimum size for mussels in The Wash is 45mm.
  • All mussel catch must be sorted and any undersize mussels must be returned to the sea as close to where the catch was taken from as is possible.

The full set of management measures is available by clicking the links below.  This includes detailed technical measures (e.g. mussel dredge width restrictions) and coordinates and charts for the open beds.

Wash Harvestable Mussel Fishery Exemption Conditions (Dredge fishing)

Wash Harvestable Mussel Fishery Exemption Conditions (Hand-Work fishing)

Relevant information

2024 Mussel Stock Assessment Summary

Mussel fishery consultation outcome document

2025 Wash mussel fishery Habitat Regulation Assessment

 

 

 

 

 

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