Byelaw 3 – Cockle Fishery Updates
This page is dedicated solely to updating stakeholders on our cockle fisheries.
20th October 2026
At today’s meeting of the NWIFCA TSB Sub-Committee, the members voted for:
- Newbiggin and Leven cockle bed to be opened as early as practicable, for 7 days a week, one tide a day with a 1867 tonne TAC, under Byelaw 3 Flexible Permit Conditions and subject to HRA
- All other District cockle beds, including Middleton, Warton, Pilling, Flookburgh, and Aldingham, remain closed under paragraph 15 of Byelaw 3.
The Newbiggin and Leven Cockle fishery is due to open on Monday 2nd Nov 2026.
Flexible permit conditions will be issued next week.
4th August 2026
At the meeting held on Tuesday 4th August, The Technical, Science and Byelaw Sub-Committee (TSB) agreed to the following recommendation, proposed by Members:
All district cockle beds, including those in Morecambe Bay, Ribble Estuary and Leasowe, remain closed for the rest of the closed season, and from September 1st 2026 until 31st August 2027, subject to the requirements for the Authority to manage its fisheries in an adaptive manner.
Due to the low stocks of size cockles across the district, all beds will be closed from September 1st 2026.