Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Cockle gatherers are being warned not to take vehicles onto Cefn Sidan Beach in Pembrey when the local cockle fishery reopens. Carmarthenshire County Council head of public protection Philip Davies said: “We are aware that part of the Three Rivers cockle fishery is being reopened in the next few weeks. “We need to point out to anyone involved in cockle gathering along the Gwendraeth Estuary that no permission has been given for vehicle access along Cefn Sidan Beach. “Any cockle gatherer using a vehicle off road in this area will face prosecution under Section 34 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.”

Cocklers in call for fresh inquiry on inlet deaths | This is South Wales Burry Inlet cocklers have demanded a fresh independent inquiry into the mass cockle mortalities that have decimated their industry and their livelihoods. Meeting representatives of the Welsh Assembly's Petitions Committee in Burry Port yesterday, the cocklers revealed that 34 of them are suffering from the effects of the mass deaths.

A new report which shows that cockles in the Burry Inlet were not killed by pollution has been welcomed. The report published by the Environment Agency shows that the estuary is cleaner than it has ever been. The investigation, which has been ongoing for many years, has halted development and regeneration along the Llanelli coastline. It has directly led to the loss of much needed jobs and investment in the town and surrounding area. Carmarthenshire’s regeneration executive board member Cllr Clive Scourfield said it was now time that opponents to the developments accepted the findings once and for all. “We hope now that this report will finally stop the scaremongering about water quality,” Cllr Scourfield said, “and that those who have been using this issue to halt every single development in the Llanelli area and beyond will accept the reality – something we have been stressing for many years - which is that the estuary is cleaner than it has ever been. “This report clearly show...

BBC News - Cockle deaths in Burry Inlet not caused by pollution, study finds A three-year investigation into cockle deaths off Gower in south-west Wales concluded pollution was not to blame. The study, led by Hull University, blames parasites, overcrowding and conditioning of cockles after spawning. The Welsh government launched the inquiry after a series of mortalities in the Burry Inlet which have damaged the shellfish industry since 2002.

Water quality in the Burry Estuary is probably better than any time in living memory making it more attractive to aquatic and bird life, claim scientific experts. The irony is that misinformed protestors have been blaming water quality for cockle deaths when in fact it is parasites that specifically target cockles only that have been responsible. Scientists have been investigating the death of thousands of tonnes of cockles in the Burry Inlet since 2002 in an exercise that has cost more than £12million. They have found two parasites alien to the British coast are the likely cause. They are certain the cockle mortality has no link with water quality. The scientists are now focusing attention on the parasites which may be causing the shellfish to die prematurely. A final report into the deaths, which have hit the cockle industry off Gower and Llanelli, is expected in April. Giving evidence to Carmarthenshire County Council, Environment Agency Wales, Welsh Water and the Countryside Counci...