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Dee cockling inquiry set to start Limits proposed at cockle inquiry
(about 5 hours later)
A public inquiry to decide whether to regulate cockling on the Dee Estuary is set to open on Tuesday. A public inquiry to decide whether to regulate cockling on the Dee Estuary has begun hearing evidence.
The four-day inquiry in Chester will hear evidence from fishermen and environmentalists. The Environment Agency wants to issue a maximum of 50 licences to restrict the number of people fishing cockles, to protect stocks and wildlife.
The Environment Agency wants to limit the numbers of licences to 50 in a bid to protect stocks and wildlife. David Cullingford, chairman of the four-day inquiry in Chester, said there was a general consensus that regulation of some kind was needed.
But the inquiry will hear objections from fishermen and environmentalists.
The Dee Estuary is one of the UK's five major cockle fisheries, but the beds have been shut since 2005 because of low stocks.The Dee Estuary is one of the UK's five major cockle fisheries, but the beds have been shut since 2005 because of low stocks.
Currently, anyone who applies to the Environment Agency is given a licence.Currently, anyone who applies to the Environment Agency is given a licence.
This has led to hundreds of boats going out during the season and the stocks being decimated.This has led to hundreds of boats going out during the season and the stocks being decimated.
The agency hopes cutting the number of licences would allow a seven-month fishing season and create a sustainable industry for commercial fishermen.The agency hopes cutting the number of licences would allow a seven-month fishing season and create a sustainable industry for commercial fishermen.
It will also protect the cockle stocks from being overexploited Alan WinstoneIt will also protect the cockle stocks from being overexploited Alan Winstone
Colin McDonald, owner of Wirral Seafood, said there had been a "boom and bust situation", which led to up to 1,500 people cockling at times. Speaking in advance of the inquiry opening, Colin McDonald, owner of Wirral Seafood, said there had been a "boom and bust situation", which led to up to 1,500 people cockling at times.
"The authorities allowed them to take every cockle that was in the river and then it took four or five years for the cockles to come back," he said."The authorities allowed them to take every cockle that was in the river and then it took four or five years for the cockles to come back," he said.
Mr McDonald, whose north Wales plant was forced to close, said that in the 1980s there had been three factories producing cockles in the area, but now there were none.Mr McDonald, whose north Wales plant was forced to close, said that in the 1980s there had been three factories producing cockles in the area, but now there were none.
"It has taken 20 years to get to this stage and it is so nice now that the Environment Agency over the last three years have listened to the people who are involved," he said."It has taken 20 years to get to this stage and it is so nice now that the Environment Agency over the last three years have listened to the people who are involved," he said.
He called for the regulations to be brought in and said he hoped for a sustainable fishery by next season.He called for the regulations to be brought in and said he hoped for a sustainable fishery by next season.
Alan Winstone, from the Environment Agency said he hoped that the 50 licensed fishermen would be able to earn a regular steady income. The Environment Agency has begun outlining its proposals at the inquiry.
Before it began, the agency's Alan Winstone said he hoped the 50 licensed fishermen would be able to earn a regular steady income.
"It will also protect the cockle stocks from being overexploited so that enough cockles are left on the beds to maintain future numbers of cockles," he said."It will also protect the cockle stocks from being overexploited so that enough cockles are left on the beds to maintain future numbers of cockles," he said.
"Also we want to leave enough cockles on the beds to feed the birds over the winter period because the estuary is very important for its wildlife.""Also we want to leave enough cockles on the beds to feed the birds over the winter period because the estuary is very important for its wildlife."