Natural England

Wildlife and fishermen in The Wash are to benefit from a new agreement to improve shellfish management and protect the natural environment.

The Shellfish Management Policies for The Wash that were developed by Eastern Sea Fisheries Joint Committee (ESFJC) were agreed last month by Natural England, ESFJC and the fishing industry. These policies set out the sustainable management of the cockle and mussel fisheries within The Wash – an internationally important area for marine wildlife.

The agreement of the Policies is testimony to the efforts made by all parties to bring about a massive turn-around in the health of The Wash. Over-fishing contributed to a collapse in shellfish stocks in the early 1990s and for the next 10 years there were few signs of recovery. The number of mussel beds fell from over 30 beds in peak years to just one recorded bed in 1997, and cockle stocks also reached record lows.

This had disastrous effects on shellfish-eating birds and on the fishing industry. Major die-offs of oystercatcher were recorded during the 1990s, with thousands of birds being found dead, and knot counts fell by tens of thousands as a result of suspected emigration from The Wash. The cockle fishery was closed in 1997 through lack of stocks, and the harvesting of mussels from the natural beds remained at unprecedented low levels for several years.

Natural England, ESFJC and other stakeholders took immediate action to protect the internationally important wildlife of the site. Following a series of scientific workshops, new research, new management measures and 10 years of dialogue and partnership working between Natural England, ESFJC and the fishing industry there has been a marked improvement in the health of both the wildlife and fisheries in the area.

Collaboration between these traditionally divergent stakeholder groups was paramount to achieving consensus on practical and effective policy measures. It has only been in the last few years that, by taking an adaptive, co-management approach, this agreement has been reached. The Shellfish Management Policies have shown that successful commercial fisheries can continue to operate whilst safeguarding the wildlife interests of the site.

In 2007 cockle stocks were found to have reached their second highest level since records began, and mussel stocks reached levels not recorded since the late 1980s. Numbers of knot in the site have very nearly recovered to previous levels although oystercatcher numbers have been slower to recover.

Speaking about this turn of fortune for The Wash, Sir Martin Doughty, Chair of Natural England said: “The Wash is one of the most outstanding Wetlands in Europe and of exceptional importance for it’s wildlife and biodiversity. Through working closely with the Wash fishermen and ESFJC, sustainable management of Wash shellfisheries has been secured.

“We will continue to work with the industry including fishermen and fisheries managers in other important sites to achieve similarly effective agreements. The Wash is an example of how, through partnerships, we can achieve a sustainable future for both the natural environment and the economy,” concluded Sir Martin.

Mat Mander, Chief Fishery Officer for the Eastern Sea Fisheries Joint Committee, said: “The development of these policies by the Joint Committee and the recent agreement of them is an important milestone for the industry, natural environment and local people. Our work is already making a positive impact, enabling Natural England to change the conservation status of many parts of the SSSI, which is fantastic news and a huge step towards where we want to be in the future.”

Shane Bagley of Boston Fishermen’s Association and Bob Garnett of King’s Lynn Fishing Industry Co-operative said: “Agreeing these policies is important as it has enabled the industry to have direct involvement in management of these fisheries upon which our livelihoods and also the wildlife of the site which we live and work side by side with, depends.”

Notes to editors

1. The Wash is of exceptional importance to marine wildlife. It is designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA), Ramsar site and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It also forms part of The Wash and North Norfolk Coast Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

2. Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. We conserve and enhance the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings www.naturalengland.org.uk

3. Eastern Sea Fisheries Joint Committee is composed of 20 members consisting of four county councillors from Norfolk and three from Lincolnshire and Suffolk respectively. Nine additional representatives are appointed by Defra for their knowledge and experience in either fisheries or environmental matters. The Environment Agency appoints the final member.

4. ESFJC is an autonomous Local Authority in its own right but does not receive any funding from central government. Funding of the Joint Committee is provided by a direct levy upon its three constituent County Councils. The Joint Committee conducts its business at quarterly Statutory meetings and a number of specialised sub-committee meetings.

5. The collapse of the shellfish stocks led Natural England to classify nearly half of The Wash SSSI Intertidal mud and sandflats - the second largest area of this habitat in England - as in an ‘unfavourable declining’ condition.

6. A series of meetings led by Natural England and ESFJC, involving Wash managers, stakeholders and scientists and culminating in a Wash Forum conference in 2000, were held to understand the problems. New research was commissioned by Natural England and others to investigate factors inhibiting the site’s recovery. ESFJC made immediate changes to management of the fisheries, introducing a quota to the cockle fishery in 1998.

7. In the last few years through taking an adaptive, co-management approach, the Shellfish Management Policies have been agreed.

8. With the Policies in place Natural England has been able to re-assess 15,000 hectares of intertidal mud and sandflats within the SSSI from Unfavourable Declining to target condition: Unfavourable Recovering.

Issued on behalf of Natural England by GNN East Midlands. Media enquiries to Gaby Hateley at GNN East Midlands on 0115 971 2797