Cockle Fishing Season Update

NWIFCA trialed an earlier opening of the cockle fishing season—from 1 July to the end of February—during the 2025/26 season.

A public consultation was subsequently conducted to gather stakeholder views on whether this earlier opening period should be adopted on a permanent basis. The findings of the consultation were presented to Authority Members at the Extraordinary Technical Sub-Committee meeting held on 19 March.

Following consideration of the results, Members resolved to retain the existing cockle fishing season dates of 1 September to 30 April, as set out in current Byelaw 3.