Cockle Pickers will be allowed onto the mudflats in Pembrokeshire

Cocklers will be allowed to harvest the shellfish one day a fortnight if they complete risk assessments.

But they say they are experienced fishermen who are well aware of the dangers of the mudflats and tides.

Some local people and conservationists want commercial cockling banned, saying it will affect the marine habitat.

The authorities said there are around 50 tonnes of stock on the river estuary and have decided to open the beds once a fortnight between 6 July and 24 August.

Obstacles are being put up in the way of guys going out to cockle and earn a living Rory Parsons, shellfish firm boss

But before anyone is allowed on to the mud flats the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for Wales said they must complete paper work demonstrating they are competent.

Dyfed-Powys Police will monitor the area on the days the beds are open.

Dr Steve Coppell of the HSE said: "The mud on the foreshore can be deep and there is a significant risk that persons will become trapped and could possibly drown.

"Before anyone starts risk working we will expect them to convince us that they have properly assessed the risks."

But Rory Parsons, managing director of Parsons Pickles, said the authorities had taken 40 weeks to pass the cockles there fit for humans and said the risk assessments were just more red tape.

"These guys know what they are doing and what we have here is a situation where obstacles are being put up in the way of guys going out to cockle and earn a living."

He said there were no such requirements at other potentially dangerous beds such as the Burry Estuary off Gower and claimed it was a tactic aimed at putting gathers off.

Some people living locally have fears that gatherers could upset the marine habitat by damaging the mudflats.

These concerns are shared by the Countryside Council for Wales which has issued advice for cockle pickers.

A spokesperson said: "Pembroke River supports a wealth of wildlife.