The Isle of Man Government hosted the annual international Scallop Assessment Working Group meeting at the iMuseum in Douglas between 8 – 11 October 2019.
The working group, which forms part of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), brings together scientists with knowledge and experience of scallop fisheries and stock assessment to exchange data, analysis methods and expertise.
The meeting, chaired by Lynda Blackadder from Marine Scotland, was opened on 8 October by the Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, Geoffrey Boot MHK, who said:
‘The importance of good scientific data in developing sustainable fisheries management cannot be overstated. The Isle of Man Government has a long standing relationship with Bangor University in Wales, which provides independent scientific advice and assists in surveying our Island’s scallop fisheries on an annual basis.
‘The local scallop fisheries are a vital part of our Island community and economy. Increasing sustainability, through the development of appropriate and responsive management measures based on sound scientific data, is important.
‘I was delighted to open the annual meeting of the ICES Scallop Assessment Working Group where knowledge and experience can be shared, leading to a greater understanding of scallop stocks in the Irish Sea, which will benefit those coastal communities which depend upon them.’
Discussions covered scallop populations, stock assessment methods, ecosystem-based fisheries management and the benefits of marine protected areas and conservation zones.
Members have travelled from neighbouring countries and from as far afield as America, Norway and Iceland.
