COCKLE RAID CHAOS: 4x4s stuck in mud as four men hit with £36k fines

Four men from Llanelli and Burry Port have been ordered to pay more than £36,000 after being caught illegally gathering cockles from the protected Burry Inlet.

The group drove their 4×4 vehicles more than a kilometre out into the estuary in a bid to collect cockles without permission — but their plan quickly unravelled.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) officers swooped on the scene after receiving reports of unlawful activity on June 12, 2025.

When enforcement teams arrived, they discovered Ethan Thomas, Brogan Phillips and Finley Harvey Jones, all from Llanelli, along with Korey Kathrens from Burry Port, in the middle of the estuary.

But the operation turned into a farce when two of the vehicles became stuck in the mud, leaving the group stranded and needing to be towed to safety.

Officers seized a significant haul of cockles along with equipment used in the illegal gathering operation.

Despite denying the charges, all four men were found guilty following a trial at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on March 23, 2026.

Each man was fined £4,000, ordered to pay a £1,600 victim surcharge and £3,546 in prosecution costs — bringing the total penalty to £9,146 each.

The court heard the men will pay the fines back at a rate of £200 per month.

NRW said the case highlights the serious impact illegal cockle gathering can have on the environment and legitimate fisheries.

Huwel Manley, Head of South West Wales Operations for NRW, said:

“This case highlights the seriousness of illegal cockle gathering, which can damage fragile ecosystems and undermine licensed fisheries operating within the estuary.”

He added: “We welcome the court’s decision and hope it sends a clear message that this type of crime will not be tolerated.”

The Burry Inlet is a tightly regulated shellfishery, with strict rules in place to protect both the environment and the livelihoods of licensed cockle pickers.

Natural Resources Wales say that illegal harvesting not only threatens the delicate ecosystem but also puts lives at risk, with fast-moving tides and treacherous mud making the estuary one of the most dangerous in the region.

The organisation added that this latest case serves as a stark warning to anyone tempted to cash in on the area’s natural resources without permission — you could end up seriously out of pocket.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Illegal cockler caught after escape by 4×4
A previous case saw a cockle picker flee enforcement officers before being tracked down and fined. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Cleaner water linked with smaller cockles that die younger
Research reveals how environmental changes are impacting cockle stocks in the Burry Inlet. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

PCSO works to bring end to unscrupulous cockle pickers
Police efforts to clamp down on illegal cockling across Carmarthenshire communities. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

New art exhibition celebrates Gower’s cliffs, coves and cockles
A creative look at the heritage and culture surrounding cockle picking along the coast.

Get ready to eat seaweed: National Laverbread Day announced
Celebrating Wales’ coastal food traditions, including the iconic cockle and laverbread combo.

On 16 June, 2023, NRW enforcement officers along with a Wildlife Crime officer from Dyfed Powys Police were patrolling North Gower when they received a report of illegal cockle gathering taking place in the Llanmadoc area.

The officers went to Llanmadoc where they saw Stefan Swistun, of Banc Bach, Penclawdd, Swansea, gathering cockles without a valid licence.

As the officers approached Swistun and identified themselves, he attempted to conceal his identity and when asked to stop what he was doing he fled the scene in his 4×4 vehicle.

After driving along the beach, Swistun hid his vehicle in a secluded sandy cove where it was discovered by the enforcement officers following an extensive search of the area.

Swistun was apprehended when he returned to move the vehicle before the incoming tide reached the cove. He was cautioned on site and his cockle gathering equipment was seized.

At Swansea Magistrates Court, on 22 August, Swistun was charged under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 for failure to comply with an Enforcement Officer’s request to stop on site.

He admitted the offence and was fined £345 (reduced due to early plea), ordered to pay £500 costs and a victim surcharge of £138, a total of £938 to be paid at £100 per month.

The equipment used to gather the cockles was also subject to a confiscation order.

Alun Thomas, Senior Enforcement Officer for NRW, said: “We are committed to safeguarding the Burry Inlet Shellfishery by protecting shellfish stocks, the environment and the livelihoods of licensed shellfish gatherers by working with the police to regularly patrol of the area.

“This latest penalty imposed by the court sends out a clear message that offences on the Burry Inlet will not be tolerated and that offenders will feel the full weight of the law.

“NRW will continue to take appropriate action against people who break the law on the Burry Inlet cockle beds and would encourage people to report any of their concerns regarding any type of illegal shell fishing or other illegal activity by calling our Incident Hotline on 03000 65 3000.”

(Lead image: Natural Resources Wales)

https://swanseabaynews.com/2024/09/02/illegal-cockler-caught-after-escape-by-4x4/

#cockling #DyfedPowysPolice #Gower #illegalCockling #Llanmadoc #NaturalResourcesWales #Penclawdd