North Western IFCA are seeking views from our Byelaw 3 permit holders on how best to ensure the Penfold cockle fishery off Southport can be opened this year. From discussions with partner agencies, we have not been able to identify a suitable site for parking vehicles or for “tonning up” operations when cockles are brought off the bed. This is because the previously used location at RSPB Marshside can no longer be used due to concerns around damage to the SSSI. RSPB have indicated they are willing to allow fishers to access the bed on quad bikes via the usual track, but no vehicles must be parked on the track for any period. The Authority has explored the use of the old Pilkington Glass site next to the usual access point on Marine Drive, but this is also not viable. This leaves no apparent realistic options for the siting of “tonning up” operations associated with the fishery. We have had representations from permit holders suggesting access to the beds via boats, launched from Lytham or any other appropriate locations in the vicinity. We wish to seek views from permit holders on the use of boats to access the fishery and…

April 2023 Permitted Tides   NWIFCA Byelaw 3 Penfold Cockle Fishery Permitted Fishing Days and Tides Month Date Day Low Water Information AM Tide PM Tide Time Time April 1st Sat Closed 2nd Sun 3rd Mon Closed 17:31 4th Tue Closed 18:06 5th Wed Closed 18:39 6th Thu 6:45 Closed 7th Fri 7:18 Closed 8th Sat Closed 9th Sun 10th Mon 8:59 Closed 11th Tue 9:35 Closed 12th Wed 10:19 Closed 13th Thu 11:21 Closed 14th Fri Closed 12:50 15th Sat Closed 16th Sun 17th Mon Closed 16:49 18th Tue Closed 17:42 19th Wed Closed 18:26 20th Thu 6:40 Closed 21st Fri 7:19 Closed 22nd Sat Closed 23rd Sun 24th Mon 9:05 Closed 25th Tue 9:39 Closed 26th Wed 10:16 Closed 27th Thu 11:06 Closed 28th Fri 12:24 Closed 29th Sat Closed 30th Sun

The recreational bass catch limits for 2023 are as follows: 1st to 31st January – Two size bass (42cm or over) per fisher per day 1st February to 31st March – Catch and release only 1st April to 31st December – Two size bass (42cm or over) per fisher per day No Bass can be taken by fixed nets. These rules apply if you are fishing from a boat or from the shore. For more information please visit: Recreational Bass Fishing Guidance (Opens new window)

February 2023 Permitted Tides NWIFCA Byelaw 3 Penfold Cockle Fishery Permitted Fishing Days and Tides Month Date Day Low Water Information AM Tide PM Tide Time Time February 1st Wed Closed 14:51   2nd Thu Closed 15:54   3rd Fri Closed 16:45   4th Sat Closed   5th Sun   6th Mon 05:59 Closed   7th Tue 06:30 Closed   8th Wed 07:02 Closed   9th Thu 07:35 Closed   10th Fri 08:08 Closed   11th Sat Closed   12th Sun   13th Mon 09:55 Closed   14th Tue 10:50 Closed   15th Wed Closed 12:10   16th Thu Closed 13:48   17th Fri Closed 15:10   18th Sat Closed   19th Sun   20th Mon 05:39 Closed   21st Tue 06:26 Closed   22nd Wed 07:09 Closed   23rd Thu 07:50 Closed   24th Fri 08:27 Closed   25th Sat Closed   26th Sun   27th Mon 10:24 Closed   28th Tue 11:26 Closed March 2023 Permitted Tides NWIFCA Byelaw 3 Penfold Cockle Fishery Permitted Fishing Days and Tides Month Date Day Low Water Information AM Tide PM Tide Time Time March 1st Wed Closed 12:57   2nd Thu Closed 14:28   3rd Fri Closed 15:36   4th Sat…

Notice updated 17/12/2022 Due to the extended period of extraordinarily cold weather NWIFCA is suspending the Penfold cockle fishery for a period of 5 days (inclusive of the weekend). The Southport Cockle Fishery Habitats Regulation Assessment states: NWIFCA will carry out an assessment of risk in conjunction with Natural England during periods of cold weather and may close the fishery if cold weather is predicted to be below zero for more than 12 hours a day for 5 consecutive and if advice is that fishing poses a risk to SPA features. NWIFCA consulted with NE regarding the risk to SPA bird features and acted on advice received. Therefore, the fishery will be closed under paragraph 6 of the flexible permit conditions from Monday 19th, Tuesday 20th and Wednesday 21st of December to allow intertidal birds the chance to feed without disturbance during severe weather conditions. The amended times are available below: NWIFCA Byelaw 3 Penfold Cockle Fishery Permitted Fishing Days and Tides Month Date Day Low Water Information AM Tide PM Tide Time Time December 1st Thu 11:35 Closed PM 2nd Fri Closed AM 12:48 3rd Sat Closed on Weekends 4th Sun 5th Mon Closed AM 14:45 6th Tue Closed AM…

NWIFCA Byelaw 3 Penfold Cockle Fishery Permitted Fishing Days and Tides Month Date Day Low Water Information AM Tide PM Tide Time Time January 1st Sun Closed on Weekends 2nd Mon Closed 14:20 3rd Tue Closed 15:20 4th Wed Closed 16:10 5th Thu Closed 17:00 6th Fri Closed 17:40 7th Sat Closed on Weekends 8th Sun 9th Mon 6:40 Closed 10th Tue 7:20 Closed 11th Wed 7:50 Closed 12th Thu 8:20 Closed 13th Fri 9:00 Closed 14th Sat Closed on Weekends 15th Sun 16th Mon 11:30 Closed 17th Tue Closed 12:50 18th Wed Closed 14:10 19th Thu Closed 15:20 20th Fri Closed 16:30 21st Sat Closed on Weekends 22nd Sun 23rd Mon 6:40 Closed 24th Tue 7:30 Closed 25th Wed 8:10 Closed 26th Thu 9:00 Closed 27th Fri 9:40 Closed 28th Sat Closed on Weekends 29th Sun 30th Mon Closed 12:20 31st Tue Closed 13:40 Download pdf of updated tides and flexible conditions (pdf).

Office services will be unavailable between 22nd December and 2nd January (inclusive). During in this time services such as general enquiries and permit renewals will be unavailable. Byelaw 3 Permit Renewals If you hold a Byelaw 3 permit for 1st September 2021 to 31st August 2022 and have yet to renew, you must submit your renewal form by 31st December 2022. All renewals received during the office services closure period will be classed as received before the deadline. Payment must be received as soon as possible once office services reopen on 3rd January. Failure to submit your renewal by the deadline will result in the loss of entitlement to a Byelaw 3 permit and you will be required to join the waiting list if you wish to take up a permit again. Byelaw 3 Renewal Form and Guidance Notes 2022/23 (Word Document) Completed forms can be sent to [email protected] or by post to: NWIFCA, 1 Preston Street, Carnforth, Lancashire, LA5 9BY

Byelaw 3 Permit Renewals If you hold a Byelaw 3 permit for 1st September 2021 to 31st August 2022 and have yet to renew, you must submit your renewal form by 31st December 2022. All renewals received during the office services closure  period (22nd December to 3rd January inclusive) will be classed as received before the deadline. Payment must be received as soon as possible once office services reopen on 3rd January. Failure to submit your renewal by the deadline will result in the loss of entitlement to a Byelaw 3 permit and you will be required to join the waiting list if you wish to take up a permit again. Byelaw 3 Renewal Form and Guidance Notes 2022/23 (Word Document) Completed forms can be sent to [email protected] or by post to: NWIFCA, 1 Preston Street, Carnforth, Lancashire, LA5 9BY

The Bass Regulations for recreational fishers returns to catch and release only in December 2022. The regulations for 2023 will be published when available.

NWIFCA Byelaw 3 Penfold Cockle Fishery Permitted Fishing Days and Tides Month Date Day Low Water Information AM Tide PM Tide Time Time December 1st Thu 11:35 Closed PM 2nd Fri Closed AM 12:48 3rd Sat Closed on Weekends 4th Sun 5th Mon Closed AM 14:45 6th Tue Closed AM 16:30 7th Wed Closed AM 17:10 8th Thu Closed AM 17:48 9th Fri Closed AM 18:24 10th Sat Closed on Weekends 11th Sun 12th Mon 7:29 Closed PM 13th Tue 8:03 Closed PM 14th Wed 8:43 Closed PM 15th Thu 9:23 Closed PM 16th Fri 10:24 Closed PM 17th Sat Closed on Weekends 18th Sun 19th Mon Closed due to prolonged cold weather 20th Tue Closed due to prolonged cold weather 21st Wed Closed due to prolonged cold weather 22nd Thu Closed AM 16:42 23rd Fri Closed AM 17:34 24th Sat Closed on Weekends 25th Sun 26th Mon 7:32 Closed PM 27th Tue 8:21 Closed PM 28th Wed 9:10 Closed PM 29th Thu 10:03 Closed PM 30th Fri 11:01 Closed PM 31st Sat Closed on Weekends Download the flexible permit conditions containing the dates below: Flexible Permit Conditions – Penfold Cockle Fishery (December Dates)