---
title: "EcoSF4 call-off: Le Strange Fish Surveys"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-58e2e3dd-b955-4c24-8c60-15f9c240ff1f"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-58e2e3dd-b955-4c24-8c60-15f9c240ff1f"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-58e2e3dd-b955-4c24-8c60-15f9c240ff1f.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-58e2e3dd-b955-4c24-8c60-15f9c240ff1f.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NATURAL ENGLAND"
published: "2026-04-28"
---

# EcoSF4 call-off: Le Strange Fish Surveys

Buyer: NATURAL ENGLAND  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-58e2e3dd-b955-4c24-8c60-15f9c240ff1f

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## Summary

Natural England has completed a procurement process titled "EcoSF4 call-off: Le Strange Fish Surveys" in environmental services, focusing on fish surveys within The Wash and North Norfolk Coast Special Area of Conservation. This contract, initiated as a tender and awarded to APEM Ltd, is valued at £241,230.80 and aims to collect and analyse data from annual cockle and mussel surveys to guide fisheries management. The service delivery spans from 28 April 2026 to 27 April 2029, with activities taking place in multiple regions including the United Kingdom and Europe. The procurement was completed using a selective method via a call-off from a framework agreement.

This tender creates significant opportunities for businesses involved in environmental consultancy, particularly those specialising in fisheries management and ecological assessments. Companies capable of conducting comprehensive surveys, analysing environmental data, and engaging with stakeholders would find this procurement advantageous. It is well-suited for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) rather than voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs), due to its technical nature and the economic scale of the project. The output will provide valuable insights into fisheries performance and management improvement recommendations, contributing to sustainable growth in the environmental sector.

## Notice

The Wash is one of the largest protected sites in the country, exceeding 60,000ha in area and has exceptional wildlife importance. The Le Strange estate private cockle and mussel fisheries operates on the eastern side of The Wash. Cockle and mussel bed communities are key attributes of The Wash and North Norfolk Coast SAC, and important feeding habitats for bird species (including oystercatcher and knot, protected under The Wash SPA). The cockle and mussel beds cover an area of approximately 1,000ha and 15ha respectively. The draft Fisheries Management Plan sets out the long term agreed Fisheries Management Principles. These Principles are applied to data obtained through annual stock assessments for both cockle and mussel to set out annual management measures (e.g., setting Total Allowable Catch (TAC), specifying beds open to fishing). After each fishing season, fisheries footprint and other data is used to assess how the fishery has performed against these measures. This contract will involve data collection through annual cockle and mussel surveys, applying the fisheries management principles to this data to set the annual fisheries measures, and post-season review of how the fishery performed in relation to these measures. It will also involve documentation of the mussel fishery through discussion with the fisheries tenants, and development of mussel post fishery evaluation methodology. It will involve understanding some of the stock dynamics and condition of the mussel and cockle beds as protected features, and critical evaluation of the fisheries management principles and recommendations for improvements to management.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e891b4df-f3fe-4900-90dc-4341c00504f3 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Call-off from a framework agreement |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 28 Apr 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 15 Apr 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 26 Apr 2026 |
| Contract period | 27 Apr 2026 - 27 Apr 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £241,230 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £241,230 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NATURAL ENGLAND |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South West London |
| Postcode | SW1P 4DF |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London |
| Local authority | Westminster |
| Electoral ward | St James's |
| Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | APEM |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

### Codes

- 90700000 - Environmental services

## Release History

- 28 Apr 2026 at 14:10 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e891b4df-f3fe-4900-90dc-4341c00504f3

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e891b4df-f3fe-4900-90dc-4341c00504f3
  28th April 2026 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder

## Provenance

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