Over half a million queenies moved to new home

More than half a million Queenies have been moved to a new place on the seabed - in order for the laying of an underwater cable.

Government worked with scientists and fishermen to locate, catch and re-home 19 tonnes of scallops ahead of work to link the Island with the Havhingsten Telecommunication Cable.

Dublin-based Celtix Connect, on behalf of Aqua Comms, has been authorised to land two branches of the marine fibre optic cable at Port Erin and Port Grenaugh in the coming months.

The branches will see 75km of marine cable installed in the Manx seabed, and connect the Island to data centres in Ireland, the UK and Denmark, offering improved internet connection with faster speeds.

A survey found high numbers of Queen Scallops along the route near Port Erin in an area that isn’t often fished.