The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) has launched a public consultation designed to gather views on fisheries management for scallops, queen scallops, crabs and lobsters in the Baie ny Carrickey Closed Area. With some exemptions, the area is currently closed to fishing until 31st October 2013.
The consultation has been sent out to a wide range of interested parties and can also be viewed online. The deadline for sending in responses is 5pm on Friday 23rd August 2013.
Baie ny Carrickey was closed to fishing for scallops and queen scallops following recommendations made by an Advisory Committee, in order to protect the vulnerable marine habitats in the area from the damaging impact of dredges. Subsequent to this closure, local fishermen identified an opportunity to assess the effect of more conservative fishery management measures on the crab and lobster populations. DEFA granted a licence to permit members of an Association to fish for these species provided that they abide by the conditions of a management plan which includes the collection of scientific data.
The byelaws putting these measures in place in Baie ny Carrickey cease to have effect from 1 November 2013 so DEFA is now seeking views on:
- Fishery management options for scallops and queen scallops in the Closed Area
- Fishery management options for crabs and lobsters in the Closed Area
- A process whereby the Department might consider trialling local fishery management arrangements elsewhere in the territorial seas.
DEFA Minister Phil Gawne, MHK said:
'The Department is committed to finding ways to manage our fisheries sustainably so that they thrive in the long term. Management of an area by local fishermen is one option which we wish to explore and these need to be trialled so that future fishery management decisions are based on robust evidence of successful outcomes. I look forward to hearing the views of fishermen and others on the proposals in the consultation as these will assist the Department to determine what happens in Baie ny Carrickey from 1st November 2013'
