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.潮间带鸟蛤调查按年度于春季（3月末至4月全月）开展。所获数据用于种群资源评估，为受《1992年沃什湾渔业法令》监管的鸟蛤渔业提供管理支撑，具体涵盖总允许捕捞量核定、开放捕捞滩涂范围划定、设立空间禁捕区以保护幼体种群，以及识别可能因种群过度拥挤引发自然死亡的潜在风险点。此外，该数据亦是开展生境法规评估（Habitats Regulation Assessment, HRA）流程的必要组成部分——该流程为依据《2010年生境与物种保护条例》（SI 2010/490）第61条开设渔业的法定要求，覆盖沃什湾与北诺福克海岸特别保育区（符合《生境指令》）、沃什湾特别保护区（符合《鸟类指令》）、沃什拉姆萨尔湿地及具特殊科学价值地点（SSSIs）。 调查实施区域为沃什湾的潮间带沙洲与潮滩，该区域被划分为22个捕捞滩涂/调查单元。本次调查共设置约1250个采样站位，采用规则网格布局，且每年沿用同一套采样站位。采样方式分为两类：高潮时段使用0.1平方米戴氏采泥器（Day grab）采集样本，或在低潮时段以步行方式结合0.1平方米样方（quadrat）开展采样。