DEFA Minister Phil Gawne is to chair a public meeting in Port St Mary to listen to public concerns about impacts on the marine environment by local scallop dredgers.
“The coastal waters around Port St Mary support a vibrant and diverse ecosystem that is important to a wide range of people including commercial fishermen, anglers, divers and tourists. I want to hear proposals from the public for practical ways to protect this area so that everyone benefits, with the hope that we will be able to agree a way forward that will enable significant protection to be introduced before the scallop season starts on November 1st.”
The meeting will be held on Tuesday 17 July at 7pm in the Mount Tabor Methodist Church Hall, Queens Road, Port St Mary. Representatives of commercial fishing, angling, diving and conservation have been asked to make short presentations on their proposals prior to a wider public discussion. Anyone with a constructive proposal for managing the area is welcome to put forward their suggestions.
