Meetings

In light of the continuing closure of the razor clam beds at Llanfairfechan, the research being carried out on behalf of the Welsh Government and the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs’ commitment that consideration will be given to daily quotas, total allowable catch and closed periods, the Committee agreed that there is little further that could be achieved at this time and to close the petition.

The Committee considered further correspondence and agreed to write back to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs to welcome the progress being made and ask her to give consideration to introducing new legislation or regulations for governing razor clam harvesting, along the lines proposed by the petitioner, following the completion of the current studies.

The Committee considered correspondence from the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs and agreed to keep a watching brief on this issue to allow the stock assessment work to be completed, before considering any further action.

The Committee agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs to request an update on the stock assessment exercise and the ongoing status of the fishery.   

In light of commitments made by the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs in relation to improving signage at Llanfairfechan beach, carrying out a full stock assessment exercise and that the fishery will remain closed until at least then end of 2018, the Committee agreed to keep a watching brief and to consider the petition again towards the end of the year.

The Committee considered correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs along with further comments from the petitioner and agreed to discuss inviting the Cabinet Secretary to give oral evidence on the petition in the future, during a discussion on the Committee’s forward work programme.

The Committee considered correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs together with further comments from the petitioner and agreed to write back to the Cabinet Secretary to ask:

·         that when the stock assessment contract is put out to tender, the remit should include the types, density, and overall health of razor clams as well as an assessment of the potential environmental effects of over fishing the clam beds; and

·         for more prominent and robust signage to be erected due to concerns expressed that the existing signage does not appear to be fit for purpose.

The Committee considered correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs together with further comments from the petitioner and agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary to ask:

o   for further information on the expected timescales for the development method for the stock assessment methodology and whether that will be put out to separate tender;

o   her to respond to concerns from the local community about the lack of prominent and clear signage relating to the closure of the fisheries, and whether this can be addressed.

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to forward the petitioner’s comments to the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural affairs and ask for further details of the research study and stock assessment survey work, including who will be conducting it and the timescales for the results.

The Committee considered correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs together with further comments from the petitioner and agreed to write back to the Cabinet Secretary to seek confirmation that the fishery will not be reopened until the results of the stock assessment have been considered.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs to ask:

·         that she provides an update to the Committee when the survey has been completed, and details of any further actions she intends to take to protect razor clam stocks; and

·         whether any action has been taken to investigate the allegations that the harvesting of razor clams has continued since the fishery was closed.