Cockle

For wild cockles in fisheries, independently certified by the MSC, in the Dee estuary there is no concern for the biomass and no concern for catch levels.Route 2 (data limited) scoring has been applied to this rating owing to the lack of a reference point for biomass and fishing pressure. Cockle is considered to have low vulnerability to fishing (scoring 24 out of 100).Cockle fisheries in the Dee Estuary in North Wales independently certified to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standard and are managed using stock assessments overseen by the Natural Resources Wales (NRW). The available stock assessment data provides an indicator of local cockle stocks through biomass estimates, but do not include biological reference points to measure the overall stock sustainability against.Stock data supplied directly from Natural Resource Wales shows that both autumn (12801) and spring (8088) biomass was higher in 2021 than the average since 2015 (9852 and 6742 respectively). The MSC certification audit in 2020 indicated relatively stable adult stocks, referring to a, currently unavailable, stock assessment, with no concern under current fishing levels, further indicating that stocks are stable or increasing.Overstocking (rouching at surface) has been identified in the Dee estuary, where cockles are not able to bury themselves due to their density, risking die off in hot conditions. This rouching indicates locally high stock levels. Conversely, there are some indications of relatively low spat fall in the Dee fishery in the most recent assessments which could indicate low stocks in the future, however, the assessments do not raise this as a concern for stock levels and biomass. Therefore, available evidence indicates no concern for the biomass for these MSC certified cockle fisheries.In the Dee fishery a total allowable catch (TAC) is set for the fishery, in response to stock assessment results. Catches in the Dee fishery are consistently lower than TAC of 3064 tonnes (18% of the TAC in 2018, 54% in 2019 and estimated 34% in 2020). Therefore, available evidence indicates that these certified cockle fisheries are not subject to overfishing.Additional cockles can be harvested by recreational fishers with an allocation of 5 kilograms daily for personal consumption, in fisheries that are not closed due to health risks or for stock recovery. There is no regulation or reporting of this harvesting. There are also several cases of harvesting in areas that are closed to fishing due to biosecurity risks or where collections for personal consumption were questionable. The overall scale of recreational and illegal landings is not known or reported by authorities and so cannot be assessed in this rating. However, continuing unreported and illegal harvesting may affect cockle populations adversely.

The Dee cockle fishery is compliant with certification by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). In this MSC certified cockle fishery there are a range of management measures that are appropriate for the local stocks. These are guided by regular stock assessments. Landing limits are set through total allowable catches (TAC) using a proportion of total adult biomass in the Dee fishery (30%). In the Dee fishery TACs have been set since 2012 using cockle surveys from Natural Resources Wales (NRW), in 2020 this was 3064 tonnes allocated as 500kg/licence holder/day. The Dee TAC also incorporates a deduction for overwintering birds as part of an agreed Habitat Regulation Assessment. In the Dee fishery landings have been well under the TAC in years with accessible data  at 18% of the TAC in 2018, 54% in 2019 and estimated 34% in 2020).The fisheries employ a range of methods to control effort including through:Licences and permit allocation.A landing size limit of 22mm in the Dee estuary. Although not detailed for this fishery or the species more widely this is larger than the reported size at maturity of 14mm in other fisheries.Gear restrictions.Limiting timing of trips and ability to adjust landing limits depending on stock levels.Spatial controls have also been used in the Dee fishery to direct effort to overpopulated areas where cockles are ‘rouched’ on the surface and risk mortality as they can’t bury themselves in warm weather.The Dee estuary has a closed season from end December to 1st July. Although if stocks and habitat assessments allow there are occasionally short open periods and areas during the closed season.The Dee fishery requires daily reporting of catches. Detail of buyers of cockles are also required in the Dee fishery.Monitoring of fishers is apparently undertaken using ‘Cocklecam'. This is a long distance camera (covering up to 3 miles) to tackle illegal cockle gathering and overesee safety of licenced pickers through live streaming of images to Environment Agency and enforcement officers for NRW. More recent details of the camera use are not readily available.The Dee cockle fishery has been MSC certified since 2012 and is currently certified until February 2023. The most recent MSC report highlights that there were no conditions attached to the certification and in the 2020 reassessment no new conditions or recommendations were raised.In this certified fishery management measures are effective at maintaining stock levels and managing fishing pressure on cockles, with appropriate use of enforcement where non-compliance is reported in fisheries. However, increased accessibility of data relating to fisheries would allow greater confidence in the sustainability and effectiveness of management measures.There may be other cockle fisheries in the area of this assessment that are not directly managed by the inshore management authority, as in some areas private fishing and management rights can be granted. Stock and management data is not readily available for these fisheries so these areas cannot be assessed.In several areas, including the Dee, information to assess cockle biomass and fishing pressure is captured in MSC assessments but the source data is not all publicly available. Greater consistency, completeness and transparency of reporting would help to ensure timely and independent oversight of these fisheries.Additional cockles can be harvested by recreational fishers with an allocation of 5 kilograms daily for personal consumption, in fisheries that are not closed due to health risks or for stock recovery. There is no regulation or reporting of this harvesting. There are also several cases of harvesting in areas that are closed to fishing due to biosecurity risks or where collections for personal consumption were questionable. The overall scale of recreational and illegal landings is not known or reported by authorities and so cannot be assessed in this rating. However, continuing unreported and illegal harvesting may affect cockle populations adversely.The UK Fisheries Act came into force in January 2021 and requires the development of Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs). In the UK, it is too early to tell how effective management is, as the Fisheries Act only came into force in January 2021. The Act requires the development of Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) (replacing EU Multi-Annual Plans). FMPs are currently in development, but the scope of them remains unclear. They have the potential to be very important tools for managing UK fisheries, although data limitations may delay them for some stocks. MCS is keen to see publicly available FMPs for all commercially exploited stocks, especially where stocks are depleted, that include: Targets for fishing pressure and biomass, and additional management when those targets are not being met, based on the best available scientific evidence Timeframes for stock recovery Improved data collection, transparency and accountability, supported by technologies such as Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM)Consideration of wider environmental impacts of the fishery

The cockles in the Dee MSC certified fishery are harvested using hand rakes which is a low impact fishing method.Management measures are in place for these fisheries as they occur in protected environments. Measures include allocating shellfish to wading birds when setting catch limits, and closed areas where the most vulnerable habitats, like salt marsh are found.In the Dee fishery all cockles are only harvested using hand raking, although boats can be used to access fishing grounds and to disturb sediment and bring cockles to the surface, known as ‘prop washing’. Research indicates that cockle harvesting using traditional raking methods results in changes to the local species community, however, this largely recovers within a year after disturbance. Research does indicate that damage to seagrass beds should be avoided, however, this is not understood to occur in this fishery.The Dee fishery occurs in area with special protection for habitats and birds including oyster catchers, mudflats and salt meadows. The Special Protection Areas (SPA) and Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) require a Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA) to assess whether the fishery will cause any adverse impact (alone or in combination with other activities) to the features of interest. Fisheries can only be opened if the HRA confirms that the fishery will not cause adverse impacts on habitats.The Dee fishery deducts a share of total cockle biomass from TACs to ensure that adequate food is available to wading birds like oystercatchers. In the Dee raking fishery some migratory bird species may be disturbed by fishers accessing fishing beds but this is likely to be limited by the limited licences, fishing at low water and beds accessed by boat.Non-target and endangered, threatened and protected (ETP) species are rarely reported or expected in these rake fisheries. The fishing effort controls and gear restrictions to improve selectivity appear to effectively limit bycatch of non-target species.To improve monitoring and reporting of fishing activity, MCS would like to see remote electronic monitoring (REM) with cameras implemented, used and enforced. To reduce the impacts of fishing on the marine environment we would like to see a just transition to the complete removal of bottom towed gear from offshore Marine Protected Areas designated to protect the seabed. We also want to see reduction and mitigation of environmental impacts including emissions and blue carbon habitat damage.