What happened to the Morecambe Bay cockle pickers?
The Morecambe Bay cockling disaster (Chinese: 拾貝慘案 Shí bèi cǎn’àn, “cockle-picking tragedy”) occurred on the evening of 5 February 2004 at Morecambe Bay in North West England, when at least 21 Chinese illegal immigrant labourers were drowned by an incoming tide after picking cockles off the Lancashire coast.
How many cockle pickers died in Morecambe Bay?
23 Chinese cockle pickers
A decade ago 23 Chinese cockle pickers drowned when they were trapped by sweeping tides while working in Morecambe Bay, Lancashire. Yet, 10 years on, campaigners say workers are still being dangerously exploited in the UK. The headlines from China were full of disbelief. “The Devil’s beach,” one newspaper cried.
How far out does the tide go at Morecambe?
10.5m
The bay is now broad and shallow, with a tidal range of up to 10.5m at spring tides and an ebbing tide that can retreat as far as 12km. This means not much of the bay stays the same for very long.
How quickly does the tide come in at Morecambe Bay?
Please note that the tide will start coming in up to 3 hours before high tide and the bore is usually about 2 hours before high tide depending on where you are and the weather conditions and time of the year.
Is the tide in at Morecambe Bay?
Tidal information supplied by the UK Hydrographic Office….Tides for 2021-12-29.
| Type of tide | Time (GMT) | Height (metres) |
|---|---|---|
| Low | 13:28 | 2.6 |
| High | 19:07 | 8.2 |
What is the fastest tide in the UK?
Pentland Firth, the passage that lies between the north coast of Scotland and the Orkney Islands, has tidal streams that are amongst the fastest in the world, running at up to 16 knots.
When can you pick cockles?
Common cockles can be collected throughout the year and are not affected by any seasonal changes regards numbers etc. The same applies to the deep water varieties, though these are most common during the autumn and winter months when prolonged storms are more prolific.
What happened to the cockle pickers in Morecambe Bay?
The deaths 10 years ago of 23 Chinese cockle pickers who were searching for a “better life” has had a lasting effect on all those associated with the disaster in Morecambe Bay.
What is the Morecambe Bay cockling disaster’s lasting impact?
Morecambe Bay cockling disaster’s lasting impact. Read more about sharing. The deaths 10 years ago of 23 Chinese cockle pickers who were searching for a “better life” has had a lasting effect on all those associated with the disaster in Morecambe Bay.
Where can I find cockles in the Bay?
The cockles to be collected are best found at low tide on sand flats at Warton Sands, near Hest Bank. The Chinese workers were unfamiliar with local geography, language, and custom. They were cut off by the incoming tide in the bay around 9:30 p.m.
What happened to the Morecambe Bay workers?
Twenty three Chinese workers died when, one fateful night in February 2004, they were cut off from the shore by the rising tide in Morecambe Bay. Fifteen years on, survivor Li speaks exclusively to Sun Online about his anger at those responsible