Manx herring quota called a ‘once-in-a-generation opportunity’

A new Isle of Man herring quota that follows two years of post-Brexit discussions has been described as a 'once-in-a-generation opportunity' for the fishing industry.

The deal follows lengthy talks between the Isle of Man and UK governments and means local fishermen can fish commercially viable quantities of herring for the first time in nearly 25 years.

Fishermen had been free to catch the oily fish, which can be salted, smoked and pickled, for centuries before the EU Common Fisheries Policy introduced quotas in the 1980s.

A century earlier and at its peak, the Manx herring industry was estimated to directly employ around 3,500 people with a thriving kipper industry in full swing.

However, falling stocks meant Manx fishermen’s focus turned to scallops and queenies and the quota allocated by the UK fell so far that the fishery was not commercially viable.

By the time the herring numbers recovered to today’s sustainable levels, quotas had become consolidated outside the Isle of Man under UK quota allocation rules.

However, since Brexit the UK has gained a greater share of Irish Sea herring quotas and the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Thérèse Coffey MP, recently determined how this should be shared among British vessels.

 It means Manx fishermen can once again diversify, signalling the end of their reliance on shellfish.

The Manx herring season will run from July to the end of the year.