Police and Marine Scotland officers have stepped up patrols to tackle illegal cockling on the Solway Firth.

BBC: Solway Firth cockle patrols stepped up

Meanwhile, the Gangmasters Licensing Authority is investigating whether gangmasters were involved in a cockling incident on Monday night.

BBC: Cockles emptied into bucket

Around 400 people converged again on the estuary on Thursday after the temporary lifting of a cockling ban.

BBC: Two cocklers on the estuary

But until last week, cockling was one of the opportunities they turned to.

ECONOMIST: Why did 19 Chinese cockle-pickers drown in Morecambe Bay?

Fylde Conservative MP Mark Menzies has called for cockling in the estuary to be banned unless greater controls are introduced.

BBC: Cockles emptied into bucket

The coastguard agency has dealt with 23 incidents involving cockling in Lancashire's Ribble estuary since its cockle beds opened in September.

BBC: Cockles emptied into bucket

Captain Charles Allister claims a number of fishermen cockling on Wednesday had overloaded their boats with shellfish to the point where some were barely floating.

BBC: Two cocklers on the estuary

It was set up in the wake of the 2004 Morecambe Bay cockling disaster, in which at least 21 Chinese cockle pickers drowned in rising tides.

BBC: Paul Broadbent

Capt Allister has alerted Environment Agency Wales to his concerns and said a series of meetings would be carried out after cockling ends on Thursday and before it possibly resumes for a further two days later this month.

BBC: Two cocklers on the estuary