This study applies an oral history methodology to explore experiences of the Morecambe Bay cockle fishery and the values expressed by 25 interviewees through their personal accounts. Exploratory in nature, the research aimed to test how qualitative, values-focused social data, and the associated analytical framework, might contribute to marine decision-making when applied within a specific fisheries management context.
The project produced two complementary outputs: a research report and an accompanying film. The report presents the case study methodology and findings, examining interviewees’ values and experiences of change within the fishery, and briefly considers potential implications for cockle fishery management in Morecambe Bay. The film was developed as an alternative approach to communicate and bring the findings to life to help to test what this type of output can add in a policy context.
Interviewees were primarily drawn from families with longstanding involvement in cockle fishing in Morecambe Bay and North Wales, many with extensive fishing histories. As a result, fewer perspectives were captured from new entrants to cockling or from individuals with broader, indirect connections to the fishery. Findings emphasise the importance of local fishing community, heritage, and intergenerational identity, alongside the value placed on experiential knowledge of the sands, which interviewees described as essential for safe and effective fishing practices.
As with all qualitative research of this nature, this study represents the experiences and perspectives of those who participated in the research and does not claim to represent those of everyone who work in the fishery or that live in the Morecambe Bay area.
While some interviewees recognised the role of regulation in supporting the sustainability of the fishery, many expressed concern about the impacts of current management approaches on the continuity of cockling communities, families, and cultural traditions. In particular, participants highlighted perceived difficulties for children from fishing families in obtaining permits, which they felt limited opportunities to develop ecological knowledge and practical understanding of the sands and cockle ecosystem. Even within this small sample, a diverse range of values, meanings, and connections to the cockle fishery emerged, underscoring the importance of recognising social and cultural dimensions within decision-making processes.
This project was funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) as part of the marine arm of the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA) programme. Marine (m)NCEA delivered evidence, tools, and guidance to integrate natural capital approaches into policy and decision making for marine and coastal environments. This work was part of project NC44: Using the natural capital approach in practice for place-based decision making at different scales. Find out more about the wider programme at: Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA) programme – GOV.UK.
The film can be accessed here: Shifting sands of Morecambe Bay: Cockling, communities and change.