Sue Skinner
North-West Norfolk MP Henry Bellingham tonight welcomed a public inquiry into a dispute about a population of eider duck, which are feared to be devastating commercial mussel beds in the Wash.

Shellfish farmers who work the beds off the Norfolk and Lincolnshire coasts want action to protect their stock.

They lodged an appeal after English Nature refused permission for the installation of a large number of electronic bird-scaring devices in the estuary and the inquiry is due to take place either at the end of next month or the beginning of March.

Mr Bellingham said: “English Nature have at least agreed to explore this issue through an appeal, but I really do hope that they are prepared to take on board the point that a large number of our fishermen are facing serious economic difficulties as a consequence of eider duck predation.”

Although the ducks were classed as part of the “protected interest” of the Wash, the livelihoods of those working the intertidal mussel lays had to be taken into consideration.

“We have got to make sure that we protect the interests of those who fish the mussel lays as well,” Mr Bellingham continued.

“The recent study, which found 150pc more eider than previously suggested only goes to show that this situation is unsustainable.

“The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) itself supports the contention that many layholders may have suffered 'significant economic loss.'

“I gather English Nature have made an 'appropriate assessment' of the implications of using wailers in the Wash to scare the ducks away. Obviously conservation and habitat concerns must be addressed but the vital point is that we are talking about scaring the eider away - we are not actually asking for permission to shoot them.”

The MP said he recognised the legitimate concerns of ornithologists and other conservation bodies but the issue was about trying to secure the fishermens' livelihoods.

He added: “If the fishermen were asking for permission to shoot the eider then it would be a very different situation altogether; furthermore it is not a question of trying to scare them all away, but more a matter of creating a sustainable population.”