Irish Sea territory discussions with UK backed by Tynwald

The island currently owns the territorial sea up to 12 miles out, including hydrocarbon, coal and mineral rights

Tynwald has backed tasking the Manx government with starting discussions with the UK about securing more benefits from the Irish Sea.

It followed a petition calling for "access to the benefits of maritime holdings up to the median line" between the island and the UK.

The Manx government last secured an extension of its territorial waters by up to 12 miles, for £800,000, in 1991.

Paul Craine MLC gained support for that issue to be explored again.

Mr Craine said the increase in activity in the Irish Sea, including renewable energy projects, offered an opportunity for the island to revisit the benefits that could be gained.

'No legal basis'

The petition was put forward by Keith Kerruish and Phil Craine, who took up the cause following the death of Nigel Crowe, who had previously been working on the proposal.

But the motion did not find favour with all Tynwald members, with several government ministers speaking out against it.

Chief Minister Alfred Cannan put forward an amendment noting that previous attempts had been unsuccessful and if the proposed policy was not "realistically achievable" he questioned the value of adopting it.

Home Affairs Minister Jane Poole-Wilson said there was "no legal basis" for the island to benefit from the seas beyond its territorial limits.

Environment Food and Agriculture Minister Clare Barber said efforts should instead be focused on talks over fishing quotas and incentives for renewable energy projects in Manx waters.

Mr Craine questioned whether it was "just" for a "much larger neighbour to hold a monopoly on the seabed up to the three-quarter point", where it could market development "that we will see that they probably will never be able to see from their side of the Irish Sea".

Tynwald members ultimately threw out the amendment and backed the original motion.

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