AN area of sea stretching from Scarlett Point to Black Head, East of Spanish Head, is now closed to scallop dredging from the start of the season, last Thursday, November 1.
The closure is in direct response to calls from those who use the area for lobster pot fishing, angling and conservationists, who said scallop dredging was wrecking the seabed and destroying the ecosystem.
In June, they called on the government to take action. A group – Bai ny Carrickey Advisory Committee – was formed and comprised those who use the area and three representatives of the scallop fishing community, Billy Caley, Melvyn Reid and Tom Bryan--Brown from the Manx Fish Producers’ Organisation (MFPO). It was chaired by Port St Mary resident Alex Maddrell.
After two meetings, the area to be closed off was suggested by a member of the MFPO and agreed with the rest of the committee (some of whom wanted the area to be larger) and early last month their recommendation was put to Phil Gawne MHK, Minister for the Environment.
A bylaw was brought in banning the use of mobile fishing gear and the taking of scallops by any method.
However, the agreement has not gained the consensus of the entire scallop fishing community.
Mr Gawne said: ‘The fishermen had a special meeting on Monday night (October 29), unfortunately the three scallop men on the committee chaired by Alex Maddrell did not turn up to the special general meeting, so they could not hear from them what had been agreed. Those who did turn up came up with a different line.’
He said he was not invited to the meeting on October 29 and said prior to that: ‘I did not think there was a lot of disgruntlement.’
The area of scallop dredging proposed by scallop fishermen is a third less than that agreed by the working party said Mr Gawne. He added: ‘But there was not a very fulsome explanation about why we should go down that route. It was a bit difficult for me to support something when I thought we already had a good, well thought out set of recommendations and a compromise looking at all the players and stakeholders.’
A decision had to be made by the beginning of the season and Mr Gawne said he had to follow the agreement reached by the committee.
Mr Gawne said: ‘I said to the fishermen I am happy to talk to them about what was recommended and agreed by the representatives of the scallopers, crab and lobster pot men, anglers, divers and conservationists. They included the chief executive of the producers’ organisation, the biggest of the processors Billy Galey and Melvyn Reid … I’m happy to continue with what was recommended to me, I’m also happy to talk to the scallop fishermen about what the problem is. Hopefully we are going to get a solution.’
He added: ‘If there are sound reasons to take a different line, or if there are really pressing ones, we can look at amending the by-law, I can always rescind it.’
Alex Maddrell said: ‘A firm agreement was reached by the eight-strong advisory committee, set up by the minister to exclude dredging scallops and trawling inside a line from Scarlett stack to Black Head, which lies on the Eastern side of Spanish head.
‘Hopefully this compromise will be of benefit to all parties and provide a safe breeding area for scallop protection to the benefit of lobster pot men, anglers, the sea bed and the shallow water environment.
‘Although it [the area closed] was less than some wanted, hopefully it will be beneficial to all parties.’