Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has revoked the Shellfish Gathering (Conservation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026. Sealed on 5 February 2026 and commenced on 6 February, the short Statutory Rule simply withdraws SR 2026/1 without setting out a replacement policy.

The now‑revoked SR 2026/1 would have created a closed season for hand‑gathering periwinkles across intertidal areas from 1 January to 30 April each year, with limited permits for scientific or propagation work. It was due to take effect on 6 February 2026. (thegazette.co.uk)

Why introduce a pause in the first place? When DAERA briefed MLAs on 11 December 2025, officials said recent records showed about 400 tonnes of periwinkles processed in a single year with a conservative value “well north of £3 million”, largely for winter export to France. The consultation behind the rule also drew 86% support for a January–April closed period. (data.niassembly.gov.uk)

Politics moved quickly as the start date approached. On 2 February 2026 the Assembly’s Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee voted to rescind its earlier support and recommended annulment of SR 2026/1. A Prayer of Annulment was then listed on the Order Paper for Monday 9 February 2026. (data.niassembly.gov.uk)

Ecology underpinned the original move. DAERA told MLAs the aim was to protect stocks during peak spawning and reduce disturbance to sensitive habitats such as seagrass meadows and mudflats, as well as knock‑on impacts on seabirds and seals from repeated shore access. That package drew on AFBI research focused on Strangford Lough. (data.niassembly.gov.uk)

Even with the rule withdrawn, conservation stakes remain high. Native oyster and mussel habitats help clean water and support biodiversity; Ulster Wildlife notes a single native oyster can filter up to around 200 litres of seawater a day, improving clarity and aiding seagrass recovery-an ecosystem service that benefits bays from Strangford to Belfast Lough. (ulsterwildlife.org)

For coastal communities, clarity matters. Without SR 2026/1 in force, there is currently no new NI‑wide closed season for periwinkle gathering, though long‑standing prohibitions still apply in specific places-for example, the Belfast Corporation Act (1930) ban on hand‑gathering along Belfast Lough highlighted to MLAs. Processors and gatherers will now weigh short‑term supply opportunities against reputational and ecological risks. (data.niassembly.gov.uk)

Policy won’t sit on ice for long. DAERA’s Intertidal Hand‑gathering of Shellfish Fisheries Management Plan-covering periwinkles, native oysters, razor clams, blue mussels and cockles-is due by December 2027. The Department also has a wider Non‑Quota Shellfish plan scheduled this year, offering a route to co‑design practical rules with harvesters, scientists and NGOs. (daera-ni.gov.uk)

A solutions‑first reset is achievable. Three steps would make a visible difference while formal plans are finalised: publish AFBI‑backed guidance on low‑impact gathering techniques; pilot voluntary seasonal “rest days” at pressure hotspots, tracked with rapid habitat checks; and align future permitting with restoration work so hand‑gathering sits alongside seagrass and oyster recovery rather than against it. Evidence from DAERA’s own briefings shows industry demand can be met while protecting the shore if effort is shaped by science. (data.niassembly.gov.uk)

Eyes now turn to DAERA and MLAs for the next iteration. The lesson from the past eight weeks is that durable rules need clear science, workable enforcement and buy‑in from those who pick, process and sell. With a 2027 deadline for an intertidal plan and strong NGO science in play, Northern Ireland can still lock in a fair, seasonal approach that keeps exports moving and mudflats, seagrass and wildlife thriving. (daera-ni.gov.uk)