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THE authorities on the coast of North West England have cracked down on unlicensed cockle fishing after a series of rescues involving people who were risking their lives.
Unlicensed cockle fishing has now been banned in Lancashire's Ribble Estuary which has become particularly risky in recent weeks. The coastguards have been involved in at least 25 rescue operations during the last two months. In one very serious incident between 80 and 100 cocklers working in 30 boats sparked off a large search on the Ribble Estuary after high winds blew up, with around a dozen having to be rescued. There have been many other less dramatic incidents, but in all cases life has been put at risk.
Now the big fear is that there could be a repeat of the tragedy in 2004 when 23 Chinese cocklers drowned in February on the Lancashire Coast at Morecambe Bay.
Cockle picking can be very lucrative for those who take part and many of them are unemployed or migrant workers trying to make extra money.
Lytham MP Mark Menzies said that the numbers of inexperienced and unlicensed cocklers meant there was always the risk of fatalities. The local council is meeting with UK Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon tomorrow to demand changes in legislation which would allow the council more involvement in granting permits, which are currently issued by the Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority. A council spokesman said the patience of local people was wearing thin and the authority had received a number of complaints following the numerous rescues.
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