Mussel surveys are carried out once a year during Autumn/Winter. Data is collected for stock assessments to inform fisheries management (opening times, Total Allowable Catch, which cockle beds to open, which fishery to open) as per the Wash Fishery Order fihseries managed by the IFCA. Data also forms part of the Appropriate Assessment 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.
Abundance and weight by year-class and width is recorded from several sites within around 20 mussel beds in The Wash.
Data is initially recorded by hand then is input into MapInfo to make density charts; data is then exported into Excel tables for reference.
Surveys are conducted by day-grabs were access is available however foot surveys are conducted at some sites.
