TheFishSite Latest News
Protection for Island Cockle Industry
The move follows a complaint from Dr Allan that some cockle fishermen from outside the islands were lifting juvenile cockles in Harris and permanently threatening both the industry and the environment in the area.
Alasdair Allan said: “Some time ago I visited cockle fishermen at work in Harris and was extremely concerned by their complaints that people from elsewhere were working in a completely unsustainable way on the islands beaches.
“These people were apparently lifting all cockles regardless of size, unlike local people who have always left juvenile cockles in place to allow stocks to recover.
“I raised this with Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Richard Lochhead, and was pleased to receive a letter this week in which he shared my concerns.
“Mr Lochhead is undertaking to examine this problem, with a view to introducing a statutory instrument in the course of the next few weeks and introducing a minimum landing size of 30 millimetres.
“I believe this will be welcomed both by cockle fishermen and by environmentalists alike and I will be working to ensure that the Statutory Instrument comes before parliament at the earliest opportunity.”
TheFishSite News Desk
Related news items:
Atlanto-Scandian Herring Fishery Gains MSC Certification
CFCA Delivers Compliance
CITES Rejects Ban On Trade Of Bluefin Tuna
Healthy Salmon Farming Industry- Towers Thompson Discuss UK Seafood Division
Related News Categories: Markets and Economics, Clams, Cockles, Abalone, Government and Regulatory, Sustainability
More Fish Industry News
- Atlanto-Scandian Herring Fishery Gains MSC Certification
Sea Lice Treatment Increases- CFCA Delivers Compliance
- CITES Rejects Ban On Trade Of Bluefin Tuna
- Healthy Salmon Farming Industry
- Towers Thompson Discuss UK Seafood Division
- Seafish Judgement Shocks Industry
- New Recirculation Contract For Smolt In Norway
Pacific Smelt 'Threatened'
Marine Farms Battling
