Cockle harvesting involves capture of wild populations and some aquaculture production, with welfare considerations for both the cockles and associated bycatch species.
Cockle welfare for the cockles themselves is uncertain given their simple nervous systems. However, mechanised cockle dredging causes significant collateral welfare harm — bycatch of shrimp, small fish and other invertebrates causes mortality, and repeated seabed disturbance disrupts the entire benthic community. Hand raking is far lower impact. The welfare of associated species is a stronger welfare argument than bivalve welfare itself in the context of cockle harvesting.