Better news for crab and lobster catchers (From Western Telegraph)

Better news for crab and lobster catchers

Increased security and more closures on the Laugharne cockle beds have been introduced following the September 11th terrorist atrocities in New York.

This is because the main access to the beds is through the MOD testing site at Pendine, the quarterly meeting of the South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee was told.

In his report fisheries director, Mr P. J. Coates, said there had been a dramatic improvement in lobster and crab landings. V-notching has continued and some of the larger lobsters caught offshore from Dinas/Newport have been tagged with cable ties.

They have been re-caught within ten days and all have been healthy. Much effort had been concentrated on returning female lobsters back to the sea for breeding. This summer, lobster returns paid off, with over 5,000 lobsters returned throughout the district. Most of these have been caught in the North and South Pembrokeshire areas.

Lobster prices have stayed above £10 per kg, which is good for this time of year. Shellfish is in good supply and sand-eel netting throughout most of South Pembrokeshire has continued as normal with no infringements of permits and illegal type nets this year.

A lugworm/ragworm plant at Pendine is currently being built which should increase production to an estimated 1,000 tonnes per year. The expansion at Pendine is said to be needed to supply dried worm as part of a feed for prawn culture in England.