More restrictions for queen scallop fishing

More restrictions will be put in place on how many queen scallops can be caught in Manx waters.

From the start of the 2019 fishing season on July 1, the Total Allowable Catch of the species will be reduced to 476 tonnes - a drop of 40 per cent.

Environment, Food & Agriculture Minister, Geoffrey Boot MHK, says the decision has been made to protect the long-term sustainability of the fishing industry and a review of the reduction will be taken four weeks after the season begins.

A recent stock assessment by Bangor University as scientific advisors to DEFA found queen scallop stocks have dropped and are at their lowest level since 1993.