All vessels operating in the fishery will also have to maintain a detailed catch and effort logbook, which is to be returned to the Department.

A 12 hour curfew is also being introduced for queenies.

These measures are contained in:

The Sea-Fisheries (Scallop Fishing) (Amendment) Bye-Laws 2006 and The Sea-Fisheries (Logbook) Bye-Laws 2006.

The Minister for the Department, Phil Gawne confirmed:

“The Department is determined to ensure that the Isle of Man scallop and queenie fisheries are managed in an equitable and sustainable way. We cannot attempt to ensure sustainability without detailed and reliable information. The measures approved by Tynwald have been developed in partnership with the Manx Fish Producer’s Organisation and take effect next month. They will provide additional data about the fishery grounds, which will assist my department to consider any necessary additional conservation measures that could benefit everyone who fishes in Manx waters in the future.”

“The introduction of a curfew within the queenie fishery from 6 pm to 6 am, mirrors the one already in existence in the scallop fishery. This curfew has been generally accepted within the fishing industry as playing a major role in maintaining a viable fishery. My department is also minded to phase out the use of dredges for queenies inside three miles within the next few years. The queenie grounds inside three miles can all be fished with trawls, which produce a better quality product and have a much lower environmental impact than dredges. This will, of course, be subject to an assessment of the likely impact on those few local vessels that have not yet switched to using trawl nets for queenies.”

At the same sitting approval was also given to an extension of the closure of the experimental area near to Port Erin. The Sea-Fisheries (Experimental Area) Bye-Laws 2006 allow for the closure of the experimental area to continue for a further three years. A requirement for all dredges and nets to be stowed and not readily available for use by vessels passing through the area is also imposed. Only fishing by means of pots for crabs, crawfish, lobster and whelks or fishing by rod and line is permissible in the area.

See the Isle of Man feature in November's edition of FISHupdate.

www.fishupdate.com is published by Special Publications. Special Publications also publish FISHupdate magazine, Fish Farmer, the Fish Industry Yearbook, the Scottish Seafood Processors Federation Diary, the Fish Farmer Handbook and a range of wallplanners.

Printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend