Isle of Man queen scallop fishery

Targets Closed Area 1

That area of the territorial sea bounded by a line drawn from:

• A point 54˚ 21.000' N, 004˚ 52.000' W (TAR_A) eastward to
• A point 54˚ 21.000' N, 004˚ 50.000' W (TAR_B) southward to
• A point 54˚ 18.000' N, 004˚ 50.000' W (TAR_C) westward to
• A point 54˚ 18.000' N, 004˚ 52.000' W (TAR_D) northward to
• A point 54˚ 21.000' N, 004˚ 52.000' W (TAR_A)

indicated as the shaded area 'Targets Closed Area 1' on the map above. 

Chickens Closed Area 1

That area of the territorial sea bounded by a line drawn from:

• A point 53˚ 59.5000’ N, 004˚ 55.0000’ W (CHI_A) eastward to
• A point 53˚ 59.5000’ N, 004˚ 48.0000’ W (CHI_B) southward to
• A point 53˚ 57.0000’ N, 004˚ 48.0000’ W (CHI_C) westward to
• A point 53˚ 57.0000’ N, 004˚ 55.0000’ W (CHI_D) northward to
• A point 53˚ 59.5000’ N, 004˚ 55.0000’ W (CHI_A)

indicated as the shaded area 'Chickens Closed Area 1' on the map above. 

East Douglas Experimental Research Area

That area of the territorial sea within the 0-3 NM area:

• South of a line projected eastward along the line of latitude 54° 16.650’ N (EDG_A) from MLW on the east coast of the Isle of Man and
  
  
• North of a line projected eastward along the line of latitude 54° 14.450’ N (EDG_B) from MLW on the east coast of the Isle of Man,

indicated as the shaded area 'Experimental Research Area (East Douglas)' on the map above. 

Point of Ayre

That area of the territorial sea between the 3 nautical mile and the territorial sea limit bounded by a line drawn northwest from the Point of Ayre lighthouse at a point 54° 24.951'N; 004° 22.1042'W, and clockwise from this point to a line drawn east-north-east from the Point of Ayre lighthouse (54° 24.951'N; 004° 22.1042'W), indicated as the hatched lined area 'Point of Ayre' on the map above.

Queen Scallop Dredge Zone

That area of the territorial sea between the 6 and 12 nautical mile limits from a line drawn south west Chicken Rock Lighthouse (54˚ 02.2700' N; 4˚ 50.4400' W) anticlockwise to a line drawn south east from Chicken Rock Lighthouse (54˚ 02.2700' N; 4˚ 50.4400' W), indicated as the 'Queen Scallop Dredge Zone' on the map above.

Research Contribution Scheme 2026

The Department is running a scheme that allows the fishing industry to establish a research fund using 'excess scallops'.

Note: vessels are not automatically signed-up to the scheme, but vessel masters and processors must sign-up together and have a conditional permit issued by the Department.

The industry research fund is generated by the sale of excess queen scallops that vessels would otherwise be required to discard to remain under the weekly catch limit (WCL).

The scheme is authorised by a conditional Fishery Improvement Permit issued by the Department. It is open to any vessel subject to:

• The vessel being licensed and authorised to fish for queen scallops in the Isle of Man territorial sea; and
  
  
• The vessel can only land excess queen scallops to an Isle of Man-based seafood processor

To be clear: excess queen scallops cannot be taken outside the Isle of Man territorial sea, and must be landed to and Island-based processor.

The research funds generated from the sale of excess queen scallops will be used to support the Manx Fish Producers Organisation high-resolution scallop surveys in Manx waters, which helps to manage stocks based on the best-available data. Landings of excess queen scallops will count against the fishery Total Allowable Catch (quota) and is capped at 30 tonnes.

How it works

Simply, processors receiving excess queen scallops from vessels above the weekly catch limit, must not pay the landed value of the excess queen scallops to the vessel, but instead into an industry research fund.

The fund has oversight from the Department of Environment, Food & Agriculture (DEFA), who monitor both landings and payments. Expenditure of the fund also has oversight from DEFA, and will be used to deliver the research priorities of the industry, represented by the Isle of Man Scallop Management Board.

Strict Terms and Conditions apply to those taking part in the scheme. The scheme is voluntary.

Please note:

• If a vessel enters the scheme, but does not comply with the conditions, it shall have its permit revoked. In addition to having its Fishery Improvement Permit revoked, a vessel landing queen scallops anywhere other than to an Island-based processor may have its Isle of Man sea fishing licence suspended
  
  
• If a processor enters the scheme and does not comply with the conditions, all permits associated with that processor shall be revoked
  
  
• The Department reserves the right to end the scheme at any time by revoking all permits. Failure to comply with the conditions of the scheme may result in a fine of £1,000

If you would like to apply to take part in the scheme, contact DEFA Fisheries Division email fisheries@gov.im or phone +44 1624 685857.