John Ward Agency (Fleetwood) Limited has been fined £2,365 following a guilty plea for fisheries offences at Blackpool Magistrates Court. The Marine Management Organisation began investigations after receiving information on 18 September 2016. The MMO discovered that John Ward Agency (Fleetwood) had failed to submit 100 sales notes relating to sales of fish from various under 10 metre vessels. On 24 November 2015, a joint inspection by MMO Marine Enforcement Officers and North West Inshore Fisheries Conservation Officers found the merchant had offered 47 undersized plaice for sale. The court ordered that John Ward Agency (Fleetwood) Limited pay a £1,200 fine (reduced from £1,800 due to an early guilty plea), £1,045 in investigation costs and a £120 Victim Surcharge. A spokesman for the MMO said: “Whilst the court recognised that the non-submission of sales notes was a genuine error by John Ward Agency (Fleetwood) Limited and a product of a bad administrative process, the number of sales notes and the quantities of fish therein was significant. The court acknowledged it was vital that the MMO had a clear and accurate picture of the quantities of sea fish being landed and sold. Hopefully this case emphasises the importance of accurate record keeping…

Both the Leven Island and Pilling cockle fisheries will open for hand gathering by Byelaw 3 permit holders on Monday 7th November 2016. Leven Island Cockle Fishery: The full authorisation containing details of the conditions under which this fishery must be prosecuted can viewed/downloaded here – Leven Sands Authorisation Nov 2016-FINAL. Supporting documentation: NWIFCA-MB-EMS-COCKLE-LEVEN-Nov16 South Lakeland District Council will issue Registration (Movement) Documents to food business operators for the movement of Cockles from the Leven Island beds (Classified as B). Requests for documents should be made from the Public Protection group 01539 733333 at South Lakeland House, Lowther Street, Kendal, LA9 4DQ (opening hours 8.30-17.00) or [email protected]. Documents can be collected or will be posted first class. Registration documents will be in triplicate. One copy to accompany the batch to the Purification centre or Relay area, one copy to be kept by the Agent/Gatherer (food business operator) and one copy to be returned to South Lakeland District Council. Pilling Cockle Fishery : The full authorisation containing details of the conditions under which this fishery must be prosecuted can viewed/downloaded here –Pilling Sands Authorisation Nov 2016_FINAL Supporting documentation: Pilling Cockle Fishery HRA 2016_FINAL Information from Wyre Council regarding classification and movement documents…

Recent Cockle Survey Results Following presentation of cockle survey results (link), at the Bivalve Mollusc Working Group on Monday 10th October, an agreement was reached by all sectors at the meeting to recommend opening Pilling Sands and Leven Sands cockle beds to hand-gathering of cockles. Officers are seeking your views on this recommendation to take to the TSB meeting on 1st November, where the Authority will decide on this recommendation.  Please email your views to [email protected] and state clearly whether you think: A – Pilling Sands should be opened – Yes / No – plus comments B – Leven Sands should be opened – Yes / No – plus comments

Cockle surveys across the District have shown that although there are cockle beds with dense stocks, the majority of this stock has not yet reached size. Informal consultation with Byelaw 3 permit holders shows that there is support for a recommendation NOT to open the beds at the end of the Seasonal Closure, but to allow it to grow on. Science officers will re-survey the beds in September, and provide the Authority with the results. This was discussed with the Bivalve Mollusc Working Group on 8th August where all stakeholders agreed to this course of action. Following approval by the Technical, Science and Byelaws Sub-committee meeting on 9th August NWSFC Byelaw 13a and CSFC Byelaw 18 Closures will be instigated on the cockle beds within the District from 00.01hrs on 1st September, subject to review. Any opening of the cockle beds will be subject to Habitats Regulations Assessment.