An influx of cocklers at the Ribble Estuary in the UK has been causing problems because of individuals not taking proper safety precautions and fishing without permits.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has reported that the Liverpool Coastguard has been called to no less than three rescue incidents in the last few days.
There is a worry that there may be a repeat of the 2004 Morecambe Bay incident where twenty three Chinese cocklers drowned just a little further up the Lancashire coast.
Ribble cocklers must hold a North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (NWIFCA) byelaw 5 permit – although it appears not everyone helped out by the coastguard over the last few days has had one.
Aside from additional coastguard expense, the local council has had a deluge of complaints because of the sheer number of cocklers at the cockle beds since they were opened to the public in September – around 400 a day.
Although individuals have the right to gather eight pounds of cockles from the foreshore, any more than that and it becomes commercial fishing.
The cockle beds are estimated to contain about £8m worth of shellfish which is proving quite lucrative. There are some who would argue that this has become a commercial activity already.
