01843 585310
info@kentandessex-ifca.gov.uk
Thames Estuary Cockle Fishery Regulating Order
The Thames Estuary Cockle Fishery Order 2024 (T24) which Kent & Essex IFCA will use to manage the cockle fishery for the next 28 years is due to come into force. Under the Order, a licence is required to fish for cockles within the Fishery and it is an offence to fish for cockles within the area of the Fishery without a licence. For licensing purposes, it is split into four 7-year licencing cycles. Licences are renewed and issued annually, to the same licence holders, from year 1 to year 7 in each cycle. At their meeting on 17 September 2024, Members of the Kent & Essex IFCA authorised the issuing of 15 licences for the first 7-year cycle which begins in 2025.
The application form, together with the management plan which explains in more detail the application process and details of how the applications are scored, can be found below. We would strongly recommend that you read the scoring evaluation criteria (found in annex 4 of the management plan) before you answer the questions.
In completing the application form you will need to provide information regarding your company structure and ownership as well as the detail of your experience fishing for cockles. A 7-year business plan will also be required. Your previous fishing experience and your business plan will count significantly towards your total score within the application system.
You can contact KEIFCA between 9th December 2024 and 19 December 2024 to ask any questions however please be aware that officers cannot fill in, or help you fill in, the form. Officers can explain questions, but they cannot assist in providing an answer. You should also consider taking legal advice on your application, as well as consider whether you need assistance with its completion.
We can accept your completed application form, including your business plan, from 19 December 2024 and it must be received by 9pm on 19 January 2025 (late applications will not be considered under any circumstances).
Applications should be typed, not handwritten, and can either be emailed to:
info@kentandessex-ifca.gov.uk or posted to:
Kent & Essex IFCA
Paragon House
Albert Street
Ramsgate
Kent
CT11 9HD
Should there be any applications where the final scores are similar or identical for two or more applications and at the cut-off point where applicants would or would not receive a licence, then these applicants would be invited to orally run through their applications with an Application Panel on 12 March 2025. These will then be subject to a separate scoring mechanism to determine their final score.
Kent & Essex IFCA Members will then meet on 27 March 2025 to confirm who will be the new licence holders.
At that stage we will write to you with confirmation or not of your application and at that stage, if you are successful, will ask you to make payment of the licence fee. Do not send any payment with this application
Cockle Permit Fishery
Kent & Essex IFCA made a Cockle Fishery Flexible Permit Byelaw on10 February 2015 which replaced the Emergency Byelaw and the other six cockle byelaws currently in operation within the KEIFCA district. In accordance with this byelaw anyone wishing to fish for cockles within the Kent and Essex district must be in possession of a valid cockle permit, or be a named representative of a permit holder.
Permit application forms are obtainable from the Authority's Head Office at Paragon House, Albert Street, Ramsgate, Kent, CT11 9HD; telephone 01843 585310 or can be downloaded from the website.
For a permit application form click here and for a nominated person consent form click here. Completed application forms should be returned to the Authority's Head Office by 31st March with the payment specified in the byelaw and copies of supporting documentation i.e. the Fishing Vessel registration document, MMO Fishing Licence and personal photographic identification (e.g. driving licence).
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