Minister says scallop fishing levels 'normal'

Environment, Food and Agriculture Minister Geoffrey Boot says he's not unduly concerned about the amount of fishing boats catching King scallops in Manx waters.

Last week, a number of people criticised the government on social media over claims more than 240 tonnes of scallops were caught on the first day of the fishing season - the vast majority by off-Island crews.

But Mr Boot says the number of licenses allowing fishing off the Island's coast have fallen substantially this year.

And he says the Island's fish producers couldn't cope if all the scallops caught were landed here: