Razor clam

There is very little information available about razor clams in the UK. There is concern for the biomass and fishing pressure due to lack of data.The species’ caught as razor clams in the UK (Ensis siliqua and Ensis arcuatus, also known as Ensis magnus) are data limited due to the lack of data relating to biomass and fishing pressure.Razor clams are assessed as having low vulnerability to fishing pressure (10 out of 100). However, they have slow growth rates and their populations take a long time to recover. Intense harvesting has been shown to impact community structure, resulting in very slow rebuilding timeframes. Once fished, razor clam beds can be re-colonised, but only if there are sufficient clams in surrounding areas.No stock assessments are undertaken for razor clams and there are no reference points available to assess the stock status. Therefore, there is concern for biomass.The only information about fishing pressure is from reported landings data, total catch levels from hand and dive gathering are unknown. There are no reference points for fishing pressure. Therefore, there is concern for fishing in UK waters.There is limited information available about hand harvesting of razor clams around the Welsh coast. However, there have been concerns about overfishing and high exploitation levels on intertidal beds around Llanfairfechan and Penmaenmawr.

There are few appropriate management measures in place for razor clam fisheries. There is very limited information about management of dredge caught razor clams in the UK (excluding Scotland). There are concerns that clams harvested using illegal electrofishing gear are mis-sold on the market.There is a minimum landing size (MLS) of 100 mm applied to the Ensis species for all European stocks, but this is often lower than the size at which they mature.Landings data from the MMO indicates that dredge caught razor clams are landed from UK waters (excluding Scotland) with the largest amounts landed around the Kent and Essex and North West coast. Previously, it was understood that dredge fisheries didn’t occur however, data from 2017-2021 indicates that most razor clams landed are reported from dredge fisheries. However, there is very limited information about if and how these fisheries are managed by Inshore management authorities for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Transparent information about the measures in place is needed to assess management of this fishery.There has been a very lucrative illegal market for razor clams in Scotland and more widely. This includes clams harvested using illegal electrofishing gear in the UK (excluding Scotland) being sold as harvested using legal gears. It is not clear whether current management approaches are protecting the fishery from illegal activity. Further information about all landings reaching markets and clear and accurate labelling requirements about fishing methods would be needed to fully understand the razor clam fishery in the UK.

Dredging can be damaging to seabed habitats and species and is known to occur in marine protected areas. However, some vulnerable habitats and species are protected through closed areas, closed seasons and gear restrictions. There could be some concern for bycatch, mainly due to damage from dredge gear.Most reported catches of razor clams in the UK (excluding Scotland) are harvested using dredge gear. Dredges are designed to disturb the seabed and penetrate sediments which can have significant impacts on the seabed and the species associated with it.Available evidence about the specific impacts of razor hydraulic dredges on the seabed indicate that the gear is very efficient at removing organisms in the dredge track. Dredge impacts are of particular concern in areas where biogenic reefs (created by organisms settling together on the seabed) are damaged and the species removed. Damage to the shells of discarded species and to species unobserved at the dredge head may be significant.Dredging in UK waters is undertaken in conservation or protection areas, however, certain marine protected areas are also closed to dredging in all circumstances. In some areas bylaws protect the beds from over-exploitation by limiting harvesting to non-mechanical means. The overall impacts of all dredge fisheries depend on the total hours, gear size and spatial extent of all vessels in the fishery.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.

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