Claims diversification from queenie fishing could take years

Funds available for retraining

The leader of the Manx Fish Producers Association says queenie fishermen won't just be able to change what they go after overnight.

It's been announced government funds will be made available for the Island's fleet, to retrain and equip queen scallop boats to be able to fish for different species instead.

This follows the decision to impose heavy restrictions on catching queenies in Manx waters, in what the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture says is a severely depleted stock.

David Beard thinks the process of diversification could take several years:

Environment, Food and Agriculture Minister Geoffrey Boot says it isn't just a case of the government telling the industry they have to diversify: