South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee

Magistrates sitting in Carmarthen on 7 August heard several cases brought by the South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee concerning poaching incidents in the Three Rivers cockle fishery in Carmarthen Bay.

The court heard how following the large fishery in 2005, the cockle beds had been closed on 7 December 2005 to conserve remaining stocks. Over winter there had been considerable natural losses and coupled with a mortality event earlier in June the Committee had decided to keep the beds closed on conservation grounds. In these circumstances it was vital the cockles were left alone to spawn and grow to harvestable size.

Nigel Davies of Square Hall, Pemberton, Llanelli was fined a total of £1100 plus £173 costs for picking cockles from, and driving over the closed Gwendraeth fishery near Kidwelly on 16 February, 21 February, 5 April 2006 and also from the closed Taf fishery at Laugharne on 7 June 2006.

For picking cockles from the closed Gwendraeth beds on 21 February, Stuart Evans of 38 Heol Elvet, Llwynhendy, Llanelli was fined £250 plus £50 costs.

For picking cockles from the closed Gwendraeth beds on 16 February Len Bateman of 8a Bryngwyn fach, Dafen, Llanelli was fined £200 plus £33 costs.

Owain Harries of 22 Upper Cross Street, Llanelli having had previous convictions taken into account was fined £450 for picking cockles from the closed Taf fishery on 7 June 2006. He was jointly charged with Paul Bowen of 29 Bryn Awelon, Llanelli; Paul Evans of 32 Heol Elfed, Cefn Cae, Llanelli; and Matthew Howe of 19 Heol Elfed, Llanelli who were each fined £300 and ordered to pay costs of £40. Howe faced a further vehicle charge for which he was fined £150.

Speaking after the hearings a Committee spokesman said “It was disappointing not to be able to open the Taf cockle fishery this year which was kept closed throughout 2005. Poaching activity is making a poor situation brought about by natural events even worse. We welcome the level of fines imposed on these defendants and there are further cases in preparation. In future we will be asking the court to order the forfeiture of the quad bikes and Land Rovers of persistent offenders”.

In 2005, and following an unprecedented settlement of cockles in 2004, some 8,200 tonnes of cockles (first sale value £4.6 million, added value c £18.5 million) was taken under SWSFC permit and a daily gathering regime.
On 7th December 2005 the fishery was closed under byelaw 24 which allows for ‘Temporary Closure’ for the protection of shellfish purposes.
Carmarthenshire County Council and Countryside Council for Wales have made strong representation to the SWSFC that no Three Rivers cockle fishery should take place in 2006.
Further regulation of cockle fishing effort via Regulating Order is under active consideration of the SWSFC with Welsh Assembly Government (WAG, Fish).