Survey 1: Dee Estuary Cockle Fishery: New Regulating Order

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Closes 27 Oct 2025

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Survey 1: Dee Estuary Cockle Fishery: New Regulating Order

Please enter “None” or “N/A” if you don’t have a comment for any of the questions.

1. Which of the following best describes your relationship to the Dee Estuary? (Select all that apply)
(Required)
2. Where do you live (town or postcode area)?
3. Do you currently hold a permit to fish for cockles?
(Required)
4. If your previous answer was 'Yes', where do you hold a permit to fish? (Select all that apply)
5. What are your thoughts on how cockle fishing is currently managed in the Dee Estuary?

You may wish to reflect on areas such as the Endorsement Procedure, Licence Allocation Procedure, Apprenticeship Scheme, Decision Making and Enforcement.

Consider the following when responding:

  • What aspects of the current management system do you believe are working well?
  • Are there any challenges, shortcomings, or areas where improvements could be made?
  • Is the current system fair, sustainable, and effectively enforceable?
  • How does the current approach affect you personally, or your organisation or community?
  • Are there specific rules, procedures, or requirements that you find difficult to follow or unclear?
6. Are there examples of cockle fisheries management (outside the Dee Estuary) that you think work well?

Consider the following when responding:

  • Are there fisheries (in Wales, UK, or internationally) with good systems you admire?
  • What specific aspects make those systems effective (e.g. licensing, enforcement, new entrant schemes)?
  • Could those practices work in the context of the Dee Estuary? Why or why not?
  • Are there technologies or approaches (e.g. vessel monitoring, catch reporting) that should be considered?
7. What challenges do you foresee in future management of the Dee Estuary cockle fishery?

Consider the following when responding:

  • Are there concerns about overfishing, stock sustainability, or environmental impacts?
  • Could changes in licensing, enforcement, or access create problems?
  • Do you anticipate difficulties with compliance or enforcement?
  • Are there risks to local traditions, livelihoods, or community cohesion?
  • How might future changes affect new entrants or young fishers?
  • What could be done to stabilise sustainable incomes in the future?
  • What measures could be introduced to increase the overall value of the fishery?
8. How do you think future management could affect coastal communities (positively or negatively)?

Consider the following when responding:

8a. Positive impacts

  • Could the new order create more sustainable jobs or training opportunities?
  • Could it help preserve local traditions or fishing heritage?
  • Might it improve fairness, transparency, or long-term viability of the fishery?

8b. Negative impacts

  • Could some community members lose access or income?
  • Might stricter rules discourage participation?
  • Could increased regulation put pressure on small-scale operators?
  • Could congestion occur at specific fishery access points if all licence holders use the same location? If so, please specify which locations you’re concerned about.
  • Are there community concerns about fishery access routes affecting daily life (e.g., traffic, noise, safety)?
9. Would you like to be kept informed about the development of the new regulating order?
(Required)