 A permit charge may be considered for cocklers |
A county councillor, newly appointed to a fishery regulatory body, says he will campaign to prevent another Morecambe Bay cockling disaster. Councillor Keith Riley - who represents Fleetwood West - is vice-Chairman of the North West and North Wales Sea Fisheries Committee.
A total of 23 Chinese cockle-pickers died, in February 2004, when they were cut off by rising tides at Morecambe.
Councillor Riley says he want to aim towards a new system of licensing.
The committee deals with by-laws and fishery regulations up to six miles out to sea.
 A total of 23 people died at Morecambe Bay in February 2004 |
Mr Riley said: "One particular area I want us to look at closely is cockling in Morecambe Bay. What happens now is that anyone who applies for a cockling permit is granted one.
"I want to see a new system by way of licensing put in place in order to minimise the chance of another Morecambe Bay disaster.
"One avenue may be a permit charge, so that we will have the ability to make proper checks on applicants.
"Such a system would ensure that people getting permits would have the training and experience to avoid the hazards they will face on the sands."
One-Minute World News 
News services
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
