There is still a very active cockle industry on Gower. The history of it goes way back. This particular shellfish is very abundant in the sands and muds of the shoreline around the Gower Peninsula and the empty shells are a common sight. I think it would be true to say that most of the cockle fishing has been on the north side of Gower along the Burry inlet but cockles are also abundant in Swansea Bay, and the shells are common on most of the beaches. I think the Penclawd Cockle Fishery is the most famous one. In the 1900’s and early 20th century courageous and really tough women walked out over the saltmarshes to collect on the cockle beds, and after cooking their catch, carried heavy loads of them to Swansea many miles away, sometime bare foot to save shoe leather. An enormous effort to make a meagre living.
Jessica's Nature Blog 