Cockle Survey Results and Recommendations

Officers completed their annual cockle fisheries surveys this July. Results are as follows:

• Biomass of size cockles in Morecambe Bay has declined by almost 50% since 2025 and is below the minimum opening threshold.
• Ribble (Penfold) and Leasowe also remain well below their respective opening thresholds.
• Juvenile cockle biomass has increased in several areas, providing potential recruitment for future fisheries.

Summer 2026 survey results:

Table 1. Summary of cockle biomass estimates and whether the 2026 Cockle Fisheries Management Plan opening thresholds have been met.

Cockle area	Cockle beds	Total biomass	Size biomass	Threshold met?	Recommendation
Morecambe	All	Yes	No	No	Closed – size cockle biomass does not exceed the agreed CFMP thresholds
Ribble Estuary	Penfold	No	No	No	Closed – cockle biomass does not exceed the agreed CFMP thresholds
Wirral	Leasowe	No	No	No	Closed – cockle biomass does not exceed the agreed CFMP thresholds

Table 2. Change in estimated size-cockle biomass on Morecambe Bay cockle beds between 2025 and 2026.

Cockle bed	2025 biomass (t)	2026 biomass (t)	Change
Aldingham & Newbiggin	1,432	1,189	↓17%
Leven	470	482	↑3%
Flookburgh	2,609	1,064	↓59%
Pilling	3,123	1,091	↓65%
Middleton	589	378	↓36%
Warton	Not surveyed	123	na
Morecambe Bay total	8,243	4,327	↓48%

2026/27 cockle fishery recommendations:

Officers will be recommending that no cockle fisheries are opened for the 2026/2027 fishing season.

Further information and a detailed description of the results can be found in the Survey and Inspection report.

The results and the recommendation will be presented at the TSB meeting on August 4^th 2026 for a final decision.