Seed mussel beds to re-open

Fishermen accessing Morecambe Bay to collect seed mussels will continue to use the Battery car park this year.

The North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (NWIFCA) has announced that the mussel beds at Sandylands are to re-open on Monday (August 7).

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.

Following a change in access arrangements, the fishermen moved to the Battery slipway to access the beds in 2016 and the successful arrangements will apply again this year.

Coun Brendan Hughes, Cabinet member with responsibility for Environmental Services, said: “The collecting of seed mussels at this time of year isn’t entirely ideal, but the fishermen have a common law right to access the bay to make their living.

“The council’s role is to try and strike a balance between their requirements and those of residents and visitors.

“Last year’s arrangements worked well so we’ve decided to continue them, but we will be closely monitoring the situation.”

Last updated: 04 August 2017