Ban on razor clam fishing extended on two Conwy beaches amid concerns over stock levels

A ban on razor clam fishing on two Conwy beaches has been extended amid concerns about stock levels.

The Welsh Government had previously prevented people from removing, taking or disturbing any razor clams from the beaches in Conwy and Llanfairfechan.

With the ban due to expire today (December 31), a public notice has been issued confirming it has been extended until the end of 2023.

The notice states: “The Welsh ministers give notice that, pursuant to Byelaw 16 of the former North Western and North Wales Sea Fisheries Committee, the razor clam beds in the area defined below are closed to razor clam gathering with effect from 00:01 on 1st January 2023 until 23:59 on 31st December 2023.

“No person may remove, take or disturb any razor clams from a bed or part of a bed of razor clams which has been closed by this notice.

“The areas closed by this notice are the areas known as the beaches of Llanfairfechan and Penmaenmawr which lie below the line of highest astronomical tides bounded in the west by the Afon Llanfairfechan at Llanfairfechan and bounded in the east by the eastern end of the promenade at Penmaenmawr.

“This notice is given under the authority of the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales and Trefnydd.

“The closure applies to all fishing for razor clams within the area. All fishing for razor clams, for any purpose and by any method, within the area is prohibited, for the period specified above.

“This closure has been imposed for fishery management purposes and is intended to conserve and protect razor clam stocks.”

It followed a request being made by Aberconwy MS Janet Finch-Saunders for the prohibition of harvesting razor clams to continue.

Commenting at the end of November, when she received assurances that it would be extended from Minister for Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths, the Conservative MS said: “It is essential for the future of the razor clams along our coast to ban harvesting.

“I know that some have been returning and undertaking this activity illegally, so hate to imagine the huge increase in the number of people we would see if the ban was lifted at the end of December.

“I am pleased that the minister has agreed with me and residents that the ban needs to be extended. I thank her for continuing to take the matter seriously.

“What we now need to see is the Welsh Government decide on a way of assessing the razor clam beds at Llanfairfechan and Penmaenmawr. This has now remained uncompleted for several years.”

Main image: “razor clams” by Paul and Jill is licensed under CC BY 2.0.