2010 to Present EIFCA (Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority) The Wash Intertidal Cockle Surveys

Intertidal cockle surveys are conducted annually in spring between the end of March and throughout April. Data is collected for stock assessments to inform fisheries management of the Wash Fishery Order 1992 regulated cockle fishery (Total Allowable Catch, which beds to open, spatial closures to protect juvenile stocks and to identify potential issues that might cause natural mortality to occur as a result of over-crowding). Data also forms part of the Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA) process required to open a fishery under Regulation 61 of The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 (SI No. 2010/490), regarding The Wash and North Norfolk Coast Special Area of Conservation (Habitats Directive), The Wash Special Protected Area (Birds directive), the Wash Ramsar and SSSIs.
Surveys are conducted on the intertidal sandbanks and mudflats of The Wash, which are broken down into 22 beds/survey areas. The survey incorporates approximately 1,250 sample stations that are arranged in a regular grid pattern with the same stations being used each year. Sampling is conducted either using a 0.1m2 Day grab over high water periods or by sampling on foot at low water using a 0.1m2 quadrat.

潮间带蛤蜊调查每年春季在三月末至四月全月进行。所收集的数据用于对鱼类资源进行评估，以向《沃什渔业命令1992》（对蛤蜊渔业的总可捕量、开放渔床、保护幼鱼种群的区域封闭以及识别可能因过度拥挤导致自然死亡率上升的问题）进行渔业管理提供信息。数据亦构成《栖息地条例评估》（HRA）流程的一部分，该流程是依据2010年《栖息地和物种保护条例》（2010年第490号立法文件）第61条规定的开放渔业所必需的，涉及沃什和诺福克北海岸特殊保护区（栖息地指令）、沃什特别保护区（鸟类指令）、沃什拉姆萨尔湿地和特有物种保护区。调查在沃什潮间沙洲和泥滩上进行，这些区域被划分为22个渔床/调查区域。调查包括约1250个样点，这些样点按正方形网格排列，每年使用相同的站点。采样在高潮期通过使用0.1平方米的日抓斗进行，或者在低潮期通过步行使用0.1平方米的方格进行。