Lobsters to be tagged in fisheries trial

Scheme designed to protect long-term stocks

A unique conservation scheme in southern Manx waters will see lobsters fitted with tags - to find out about their movements.

The scheme, which will see fishermen in Baie ny Carrickey log their catches, is designed to protect stocks of the crustacean long-term.

A four year project to restrict fishing in the bay expires in November - and now the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture is asking the public whether it should continue.

Data collected so far has given 'variable' results - but DEFA says extending the trial by three years should show whether efforts to manage fishing work.

Guy Sutton from the bay's Crustacean Fishery Management Association says the lobster tagging is a promising experiment.