Home / Environment / Fishing Ban Lifted in Norfolk Beach After Months of Closure
Fishing Ban Lifted in Norfolk Beach After Months of Closure
3 Oct
Summary
- Fishing fleet in Heacham allowed to return to South Beach
- Temporary closure due to high bacterial levels lifted in September
- Underlying cause of poor water quality still unclear
As of October 3rd, 2025, the fishing ban on Heacham's South Beach, also known as Stubborn Sands, has been lifted. The fishing fleet in Heacham has been allowed to return to the area, weeks after it was shut down due to high bacterial levels.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and King's Lynn and West Norfolk Council (KLWNBC) had worked together to monitor the situation and advise on when the restrictions should be put in place. In July, Stubborn Sands Inner recorded an E. coli result that triggered a temporary closure for commercial harvesting. However, the ban was subsequently lifted in September after two successive tests proved the shellfish were now clean and safe.
While the fishing fleet has returned to the waters off Heacham, the coastal area remains classified as "poor" by the Environment Agency due to the high levels of bacteria found there. Over the past three years, similar bans have been put in place during the summer months, though the underlying cause of the poor water quality is still unclear. Factors such as the number of birds feeding on the coastline, warm weather, and pollution runoff have all been blamed.
