NEW by-laws designed to protect the Isle of Man’s queen scallop fishing industry became effective from September 1, imposing new restrictions on fishing zones, the use of dredges and a curfew on night-time fishing.
It is now illegal to use dredges to catch queenies in a new, larger conservation zone which covers 52 per cent of the Isle of Man's territorial waters (12 mile limit), and the minimum landing size has been increased from 40mm to 50mm.
A series of changes have been announced in an attempt by the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture to preserve existing stocks of Manx queen scallops which are now widely recognised for their quality in the culinary world and served in the finest UK restaurants.
"The Isle of Man queen scallop fishery is of increasing importance to our seafood industry and the wider Manx economy,” said DEFA Minister John Shimmin.
"However, until now, the stock has had very little protection and was potentially at risk of overfishing."
Fishermen will also be restricted from spending days at sea fishing for scallops round the clock and will be reduced to a maximum of 14 hours in any 24 hours, including a new curfew on night-time fishing with fishing only permitted between 6am and 8pm for the Territorial Sea, with even tougher restrictions inside the three miles limit between 6am and 6pm.
The by-laws also mean the beginning of the end for large fishing boats who have previously taken very large catches of king scallops and queenies - potentially damaging fragile stocks.
The department has announced that vessels with engine power larger than 221kw will not permitted to fish for queenies inside the 12 mile limit.
Any large vessel which has been fishing regularly in Manx waters for queenies will still be able to hold a permit but will be required to eventually replace the vessel with a smaller boat in the future.
The new by-laws also formalise an unwritten understanding amongst fishermen that queenies should not be caught in two periods each year.
It has always been accepted by the fishing community that there should be a self-imposed break for queenies in the spring and mid winter.
The new legislation now makes it an offence for anyone to catch queenies from April 1 to May 31, and the use of "gate gear" (dredges without teeth) is banned from June 1 to August 31 and entirely banned all year round inside the conservation zone.
The department has also warned that if they receive advice that the queenie stock is deemed to be at risk that a TAC (Total Allowable Catch) may be imposed in respect of the Territorial Sea.
Another new regulation will insist on queenie fishing boats being fitted with satellite tracking devices, to be followed in the future by the mandatory carrying of electronic logbooks, which will be introduced in separate legislation.
The department believes that the new regulations will be widely accepted, however it has warned that anyone who contravenes the new bye-laws could be prosecuted and fined up to £50,000.
Mr Shimmin added: "This by-law, introduced after widespread consultation, will introduce a seasonal closure in the fishery, close more than half the territorial sea to queen scallop dredging and allow the department to shut the fishery if the stock is deemed to be at risk.
"The by-law should give the Manx seafood sector confidence in the long term future of their industry. Isle of Man queen scallops have a growing international reputation that can now be built upon.
"The resource is finite and rather than concentrate on simply catching more it is now for the industry, in partnership with the department, to look at ways of maximising both the quality and the value of the catches taken in Manx waters.
"I am confident that this by-law is a positive step towards guaranteeing a prosperous and sustainable future for fishermen and processors alike."
