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Farming Today: 09/11/2011

09/11/2011

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 09/11/2011

A cockle bed closed following safety concerns could remain shut until April.

Presented by Caz Graham. A cockle fishing site off the coast of Lancashire could remain closed until April following serious safety concerns.

There are concerns for the livelihood of Lancashire cockle pickers following the closure of an off shore bed. It was shut after hundreds of unlicensed and inexperienced people arrived at the site to fish and some teams got into serious difficulties whilst out at sea and had to be airlifted to hospital. The cockle bed in the Ribble Estuary may now not reopen until April. Conservative MP for Flyde, Mark Menzies says that while safety is the priority, a five month delay could damage the industry. The North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority is working with police and other agencies to reopen the site. It says says it must ensure that checks are in place to ensure proper permit checks to ensure the safety of all those fishing, before the bed can be fished again. 

Farmers and people living in the countryside are being asked for their thoughts ahead of the debate in Parliament which could see a trial to scrap changing the clocks back. The current Daylight Saving Bill would require government to conduct a full analysis of the potential costs and benefits of keeping BST all year round. The Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee is gathering evidence until December 15th. 

And reporter Clare Freeman visits a farming family who were so sick of being targeted by thieves they have started a website to help other farmers to try to get their stolen items back. 

Producer Angela Frain
Presenter  MS CAZ GRAHAM.

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