Predicted impacts of proposed management measures in the Isle of Man queen scallop (Aequipecten opercularis) fishery: 2014 Fishing Season (original) (raw)

This report examines the likely impacts on the scallop fishing fleet of management measures proposed for the 2014 queen scallop fishing season. The imposition of a maximum vessel length of 15 m LOA in the fishery would potentially exclude 74 eligible vessels from fishing for queen scallops in the Isle of Man's territorial waters. However, only 69 of these vessels are predicted to fish for queen scallops, based on historical fishing activity. At present there are no multi-rig trawlers fishing for queen scallops within the 12 nm limit and as such no such vessels would be impacted as a result of a ban on this type of fishing. Due to the limited availability of data and research the impacts of a proposed limit on queen scallop net spread to a maximum of 12 fathoms (c. 24 m) is unclear.