NWIFCA Cockle Fisheries Management Plan

The NWIFCA Cockle Fisheries Management Plan (CFMP) outlines the Authority’s strategic approach to the sustainable management of cockle fisheries across the district. It supports NWIFCA’s statutory duties under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (MaCAA) and contributes to the delivery of national fisheries objectives under the UK Fisheries Act 2020.

The plan aims to deliver meaningful progress toward the long-term sustainable management of cockle fisheries in the North West and a structured framework to achieve this goal.
The plan is structured around the following key objectives:

• Review the status of the stocks, socio-economic importance, relevant legislation, and
  most recent scientific evidence base;
• Establish decision-making metrics for the opening and closing of cockle beds, and define
  appropriate management measures for active fisheries;
• Identify key management challenges and knowledge gaps affecting the fisheries; and
• Set out priority actions through measurable, time-bound objectives and a targeted
  research plan to strengthen future management.

The first CFMP was agreed by the Technical Science and Byelaw Committee of the Authority on May 5th 2026. The CFMP will be reviewed annually to ensure management is fit for purpose.

The full CFMP can be found here: