COCKLERS and other shelfish collectors face paying an extra £2,000 to ply their trade in Morecambe Bay under a new law set to come into force in April.
The Gangmasters Licensing Authority is considering introducing a flat fee of £2,130 for a licence to fish in the Bay under the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004.
The authority is also exploring whether to establish a banded fee structure whereby the smaller the turnover of a company, the smaller the fee.
Fishing without a licence would become a criminal offence under the law, which aims to prevent the exploitation of workers in the shelfish, agricultural and horticultural industries.
However, the act has been criticised by some Bay fishermen who believe it does not go far enough to make gangmasters more accountable for workers out on the sands.
A public consultation on the law ends on Friday (December 16).
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