Manx king scallop fishery among most sustainable - marine charity

The improved rating appears in the annual Good Fish Guide

The Isle of Man's king scallop fishery has been rated among the most sustainably managed in the British Isles, a marine charity has said.

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has increased the island's sustainability rating following improvements to its management.

Environment Minister Clare Barber said the uprated score reflected "bold" decisions taken to reduce fleet sizes and protect stocks.

The rating was last updated in 2021.

A long term management plan launched by the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture in 2022 saw changes to the number of boats allowed to enter the fishery.

'Well-managed'

The fleet's size was cut to 60 vessels in 2022, from 75 in 2021 and boats had to provide sufficient history of catching king scallops in Manx territorial seas.

Further updates have also seen changes to the type of fishing gear allowed and the use of closed and restricted areas to protect scallops and sensitive habitats.

An MCS spokesman said: "The increased rating indicates that the Isle of Man's management approach demonstrates some very good practices, and it is clearly extensively researched, monitored and reported on."

Ms Barber said the feedback should give "consumers confidence that they are supporting a sustainable product and that our fishery Island's resources are well-managed".

Surveys by Bangor University and the Manx Fish Producers Organisation show king scallops stocks in the island's seas in 2023 is the third highest since surveys began in the 1990s, a government spokesman said.

The recent improvements should make sure stocks of king scallops "remain sustainable into the future", he added.

The island's king scallop fishing season begins on 1 November.

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