Wash Mussel Fishery
Update – 30 July 2026
Permit conditions for the 2026 Mussel Fishery have been revised under paragraphs 21 and 24 of The Wash Cockle and Mussel Byelaw 2021 (WCMB) to support a sustainable and viable fishery.
These permit conditions come into effect at 2359hrs on the 31 July 2026.
Open beds and TACs
The 2025 intertidal mussel surveys concluded that there is sufficient stock to support the following fisheries and associated Total Allowable Catches (TAC’s), in line with the 2008 management policies for mussel fisheries in The Wash:
Harvestable mussel fishery (where mussels are sold directly to a market):
– Dredge fishery with a maximum (TAC) of 3,075 tonnes
– Handwork fishery with a maximum (TAC) of 308 tonnes
Re-laying mussel fishery (where mussels are removed from the fishery with the intention of being re-laid for the purpose of aquaculture):
– Dredge fishery with a maximum TAC of 2,178 tonnes
– Handwork fishery with a maximum (TAC) of 218 tonnes
Combined, this equates to a maximum TAC of 5,779 tonnes (including handwork components).
To ensure that mussel density on individual mussel beds does not fall below the sustainable level, maximum TACs for each bed have been determined and are detailed in Table 1:
Table 1: Maximum TAC’s for individual beds open to the mussel fishery.
|
Bed |
Maximum TAC (tonnes) |
|
Harvestable and Re-laying |
|
| North Mare Tail | 486 |
| South Mare Tail | 298 |
| Wrangle | 134 |
| Main End | 24 |
| Holbeach | 1093 |
| Trial Bank | 839 |
| Scotsman’s Sled | 133 |
| Blackshore | 343 |
| Back of the Wall | 1203 |
| Skate Run | 914 |
|
Harvestable Only |
|
| Shellridge | 2390 |
| Tofts | 1416 |
| West Gat | 956 |
|
Mid Gat |
102 |
|
East Gat |
406 |
As a number of beds currently closed were identified in the 2025 mussel surveys to have sufficient stock for harvesting and relaying, revised permit conditions reflect the opening of additional areas to increase fishing opportunities and support a viable industry.
It should also be noted that beds are open to either the harvestable fishery or both the harvestable and relaying fishery as detailed in Table 1. A prohibition has been included in the permit conditions to prevent mussels being taken from the beds for a purpose that they have not been opened for.
Seal Closures
Haul out sites which are identified as high risk to the Wash Harbour seal population, require mitigation to protect against visual disturbance. A Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA) for the mussel fishery identified a single high-risk seal haul out site overlapping with the north and south mare tail mussel beds posing a risk to the designated Harbour seal population. To mitigate this risk, a seasonal spatial closure to the handwork fishery during the sensitive pupping and moulting season is required and is included in the revised permit conditions. This closure will remain in place to the handwork fishery until the 31 August 2026. Please see Schedule 1 (Figure 2) of the permit conditions for the handwork fishery for a chart detailing the spatial extent of the closure.
Vessel Monitoring Systems
To enable accurate monitoring of activities and ensure compliance with open and closed areas a requirement for all permitted vessels to carry a vessel monitoring device whilst participating in the fishery has been included.
The above measures will be consulted on to inform a review within three months of this update in accordance with schedule 4 of the WCMB.
Biosecurity Measures
The Wash contains Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS). Biosecurity measures are included in these permit conditions for both the harvestable and re-laying mussel fisheries. In addition, the Authority has issued the following Advice Notice about INNS in The Wash. Anyone catching, selling or buying mussel from The Wash should read this advice note.
Further information:
2026 Dredge Fishery Permit Conditions
2026 Hand-Worked Fishery Permit Conditions
Summary of the 2025 Wash Intertidal Mussel Stock Assessment surveys