Suzy Davies, Regional AM for South Wales West - which includes Gower - has called for a specific study to be carried out into the early deaths of cockles in the Burry Inlet, off the coast of the Gower peninsula.
This follows recommendations made by Natural Resources Wales that such a report would be welcome.
Suzy Davies raised the matter with the First Minister in the Assembly today (14 February 2017).
Suzy said:
“Although the European Court of Justice has taken action to limit the number of sewage spills allowed in the area, there is still uncertainty around what actually causes the disease in cockles.
“In the Burry Inlet we are still seeing far too many cockles dying before they reach maturity.”
Mrs Davies called on the Welsh Government to go beyond NRW’s review, saying to the First Minister, “We need you to commit to further study, specifically on the issue of early cockle death".
Commenting further, she added “I hope that the review being carried out will address the particular issue of early deaths of Gower cockles in the Burry Inlet.
If not, I will again be pressing the Welsh Government to look into this so that this important local industry gets the support it deserves.”