The annual scallop fishing season starts this weekend and will run until 31st May 2010.
The Irish Sea area is the only major fishing ground in the British Isles that has a closed season to help protect the stocks and the environment.
The scallop fishery still provides valuable income and employment on the Isle of Man. During the 2008-09 season, the Island's fish processors received over 1,000 tonnes of scallops, and it is expected the new season will be just as busy.
Successful conservation measures have raised catch rates and consequently led to an increased presence from British and Irish vessels during the season.
This year, Wales has temporarily closed its territorial sea to all scallop fishing while it tries to put new conservation measures in place to protect its stocks. Scotland and England have the power to follow suit, which will naturally result in an even greater number of vessels in Manx waters.
The Isle of Man can only introduce new conservation measures if granted permission by all the other jurisdictions in the Irish Sea area.
Minister for DAFF Phil Gawne MHK is disappointed that sensible conservation measures requested by the Department have not been agreed by every jurisdiction and therefore cannot be implemented; as a result, he is in the process of renegotiating the fisheries management agreement.
"From 1st November, on clear nights during the coming months, you may notice a mass of bright lights twinkling on the horizon and wonder what they are?
"The answer is: they are the lights on the scallop boats from all over the British Isles harvesting our scallops.
"I am particularly angry that vessels from countries which are failing to introduce any meaningful conservation measures are currently allowed to come to Manx waters and undermine our efforts to develop a sustainable scallop industry.
"This is clearly unfair and I hope that UK Fisheries Ministers will shortly agree to a new Agreement which will allow me the same level of control in the Manx territorial sea as they enjoy in theirs."
Scallop Ranching Initiative Commenced
Meanwhile, the Minister has today (30th October) confirmed today a new bye-law, banning the fishing for or taking of both king and queen scallops in two additional areas within the Manx Territorial Sea, increasing the number of protected areas to four.
However, unlike the existing closed areas in Douglas Bay and off Port Erin, these areas form part of an ambitious scallop 'ranching' project that could transform the Island's scallop fishery.
Working in partnership with the Manx Fish Producer's Organisation (MFPO), DAFF has placed a total of over 200,000 juvenile scallops onto existing scallop beds within Laxey and Niarbyl Bays.
The juveniles will reach maturity over the next three years, and DAFF will work with Manx scallop vessels to monitor their growth, survival and subsequent harvest.
This work will run alongside another DAFF commitment to investigate the viability of a Manx scallop hatchery, which could provide a reliable supply of juvenile scallops and reduce reliance on natural spatfall, which can be very variable.
Speaking today, Minster Gawne commented, "I am very pleased that the MFPO is working with my Department in this venture.
"The Bye-Laws I have introduced will allow DAFF to work with Manx fishermen over the next three years, with a view to subsequently seeding much larger areas of seabed.
"This will ultimately mean that fishermen will no longer need to compete against each other, but instead can plan the harvest of their patch of seabed to make it as profitable as possible - in effect this means fishing much less, but with much better catch rates and profitability.
"This a genuine win/win situation, that I hope both fishermen and conservation groups can support."
Pictured: Juvenile scallops on the deck of FPV Barrule prior to release.
