Fisheries Minister Phil Gawne says the fishing of juvenile scallop beds has been a 'bad news story.'

His department announced that a record bed of young scallops had been recorded off the coast of Peel, boding well for the future of the industry, but had requested that fishermen left it alone this year to allow it to develop.

However, fisherman from the Isle of Man and Scotland ignored the advice and dredged the beds for adult scallops, with the effect of killing large numbers of juveniles.

Director of Fisheries Andy Reid says he can understand why fishermen went there, but the department is trying to look at the long term sustainability of the industry: