Morecambe Bay

Morecambe Bay is the largest estuary in the UK, covering an area of almost 200 square miles. It is fed by 5 rivers; the Leven, Keer, Kent, Lune and Wyre. Towns and villages on the bay include Barrow-in-Furness, Fleetwood, Grange-over-Sands, Heysham, Morecambe and Ulverston.

The bay is noted for its rich bird life, serving as a wintering and passage area for waders and wildfowl, has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation.

It is also notorious for its treacherous quicksand and fast moving tides. Many have lost their lives here, including a gang of over 20 Chinese cockle pickers in 2004. Organised crossings can be made with the royally appointed Queen’s Guide to the Sands. For more details call the Morecambe Tourist Information Centre on 01524 582808.

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Editor
The sand banks at Morecambe Bay have reopened for fishing with new regulations (September 2007). Fishing in the bay, where 21 Chinese cockle pickers lost their lives in 2004, is now overseen by the Gangmaster Licencing Authority (GLA), a new organisation established to ensure that workers in the bay’s shellfish industry are not exploited. All fishermen must now complete a safety course before they can acquire a permit to fish in Morecambe Bay. Those fishing without a licence will be subject to a fine of up to £5,000.

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