MSC REASSESSMENT AND SURVEILLANCE AUDIT FOR POOLE CLAM & COCKLE FISHERY

MSC reassessment and surveillance audit for Poole Clam & Cockle Fishery. The process of undertaking the 4th annual surveillance audit for the Marine Stewardship Council certification of the Poole Clam & Cockle Fishery has commenced. In addition, the fishery is also entering the process of re-assessment as the current certification (valid for 5 years) will come to an end in 2023. The audit and reassessment are being carried out by Control Union (UK) Limited.

There are three documents associated with this process which are currently open for stakeholder consultation on the MSC website, please click here to visit the page.

Stakeholder input is an essential source of information to the assessment process, please visit the above link for more information including how to register your interest in engaging with the assessment process for this fishery.

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Dredging for shellfish in Poole Harbour has taken place for over 40 years. The fishery started as a small artisanal fishery for the common cockle ( Cerastoderma edule ) and then, with the introduction of the Manila clam ( Ruditapes philippinarum ) in the 1980s, there was increased investment and intensity of fishing effort which led to the development of new fishing methods.

The fishery started using hand-raking techniques which then developed into the use of mechanised dredges. The modern-day fishery uses the pump-scoop dredge system which consists of a mechanically operated dredge basket which utilises water jets to direct the flow of sediment through the dredge to increase efficiency. The Manila clam and common cockle are the main species harvested although other clam species including the American Hard-Shelled clam ( Mercenaria mercenaria ) and the native clam ( Ruditapes decussatus ) are also harvested in smaller quantities.

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