§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they consider organised, large-scale commercialisation of cockle harvesting is sustainable. [HL1252]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty)Sustainability is difficult to define for a cockle fishery, since wind conditions, storms and other environmental factors combine to cause cockle stocks to vary from year to year even in the absence of fishing. This natural variability may sometimes be of a magnitude that does not permit sustainable fishing. Nevertheless, the existence of sustained, large-scale commercial fisheries for cockles clearly demonstrates that sustainable harvesting is possible under good management. Local sea fisheries committees are responsible for managing fisheries, including cockle fisheries, out to six miles in England and Wales and seek to ensure sustainable exploitation of local stocks within this area.