Scottish Cockle Industry Could see Minimum Landing size of 30mm

1 December, 2009 - 11:25 — admin

Scottish Cockle Industry Could see Minimum Landing size of 30mm

SNP MSP for the Western Isles, Alasdair Allan, has obtained an assurance from the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs that he will legislate in the next few weeks to protect the future of cockle populations in the Western Isles. The move follows a complaint to Dr Allan that some cockle fishermen from outside the islands were lifting juvenile cockles in Harris and permanently threatening both the industry and the environment in the area. He commented that, on a visit to Harris, local fishermen were concerned that people from elsewhere were apparently lifting all cockles regardless of size.
 
Alasdair Allan stated that Mr Lochhead is undertaking to examine this problem, with a view to introducing a Statutory Instrument in the course of the next few weeks and introducing a minimum landing size of 30 millimetres.