I'm delighted to announce that the Kent and Essex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (KEIFCA) have approved plans to establish a trial fishery for Manila clams in the district
I previously raised the potential of two new shellfisheries in the Thames Estuary with Rishi Sunak and DEFRA Minister Mark Spencer, as well as engaging with the local cocklers and fishermen and taking their views direct to Ministers and other stakeholders.
On Thursday 4th April I held a hugely positive meeting with local cocklers and fishermen as well as Will Wright (Chief Officer) and Dominic Bailey (Deputy Chief Officer) of KEIFCA to discuss how the trial will be carried out as well as discuss both the challenges and opportunities that this trial presents for our local fishing industry.
The Manila clam is a high-value seafood indigenous to the sub-tropical and temperate coasts of the western Pacific. Since the early 20th century, it has been spread by human activities and is now widely established in the north-eastern Pacific, the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Manila clams were first introduced to the UK as an aquaculture species in the late 1980s - early 90s. The Manila clams in the estuary have been developing over the last three to four years as the water temperature has increased, helping their survival, and improving their sustainability.
KEIFCA agreed at their last meeting to conduct a trial to fish for Manila clams in our area, and following discussions with Natural England regarding the impact of the trial on the seabed, both parties agreed that the number of vessels taking part in the trial needed to be limited to a small handful of boats. The shared expectation was also that the Manila clam trial will be set up with the intention that the fishery will work to MSC (Marine Stewardship Control) standards.
At my meeting, KEIFCA outlined that they are currently contacting the local industry for expressions of interest in assessing this trial fishery and have had an excellent response from a number of different associations and fishermen across the Thames.
KEIFCA outlined that Southern IFCA are the most experienced regional managers of this stock and they have worked with them to better assess the manila clam stocks and to look at how these stocks can be fished and sustainably harvested in the future.
Poole Harbour fishery in the Southern IFCA district is one they are looking to for a model, but it is also in shallower water, and closer inshore. KEIFCA want to explore the possibility that the smaller boats and pump scoops operating there would work in the Thames, but acknowledged that there could be challenges and the equipment might need to be adapted. It is therefore envisaged that the trials would evaluate several different types of equipment, to see which is best placed to harvest the Thames Manila clams.
KEIFCA is currently aiming for an autumn fishery, which will allow time for the backroom organisation of the trial to be completed and give time for successful applicants from across the industry to make FaSS (Fisheries and Seafood Scheme) applications towards the cost of gearing up for the trial fishery.
Following the trial KEIFCA will be able to assess the catch and the viability and profitability of the new fishery and establish the best way forward.
During the meeting I warmly welcomed the news and the opportunity to develop a fair fishery that will provide extra income to a fleet that has seen a lot of important species, such as cod and sole, decline significantly. I further assured KEIFCA and the local fishermen that I would continue to work on ensuring the new fishery is delivered and properly benefits our local industry.
I also committed to convening a Kent and Essex fishing summit to engage other MPs who have fishing communities in their constituencies that could also benefit from the new fishery. I have already secured confirmation from Mark Spencer, the Fishing Minister, that he will attend this meeting and engage with MPs and the local industry on the new fishery.
This new clam fishery will be the first new fishery established in the Thames Estuary for centuries and offers huge potential to the local fishing community, helping to safeguard an industry that has existed in Southend and Leigh-on-Sea since the Doomsday book.
This is a hugely exciting development and one that has the potential to be game changing for our local fishing community. Ever since I found out about the potential for a new clam fishery in the estuary I have engaged extensively with Ministers and stakeholders to see what can be done to deliver it.
This will be the first new fishery locally in my memory and I will continue to work closely with our local fishermen and with Kent and Essex IFCA to ensure we deliver a successful and sustainable clam fishery.
