Mussel beds set to re-open

Fishermen accessing Morecambe Bay to collect seed mussels are to use the Battery car park, following talks with local residents.

The North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (NWIFCA) has announced that the mussel beds at Sandylands are to re-open today (July 25).

Monitoring of the beds and their re-opening is a matter for NWIFCA, but access to the slipways and beach is the responsibility of Lancaster City Council.

In 2015 fishermen accessed the beach from Oakley Road but, following discussions with residents, access to the beach will relocate to the Battery slipway.

Coun David Smith, Cabinet member with responsibility for Environmental Services, explained the reason for the decision: “While it’s up to NWIFCA to decide if the mussel beds re-open, the city council has the task of controlling access to the beach.

“The fishermen have a common law right to access the bay to make their living and the council’s role is to try and strike a balance between their requirements and those of residents and visitors.

“Having spoken to local people about their concerns on last year’s arrangements, we’ve decided to move things back to the Battery, for this season.

“We’ve already got comprehensive information on how access from Oakley Road worked, so it seems sensible this time to use the Battery slipway and gather similar data.

“This will provide us with the information we need to make an up to date comparison between the two locations, which will help for future seasons.”

Last updated: 25 July 2016