New fisheries deal good news for IOM

Fisheries Minister Phil Gawne has briefed directors of the Manx Fish Producers' Organisation on aspects of a new fisheries management agreement, between the Isle of Man and the United Kingdom.

The present agreement for the area between three and 12 miles from the Island, dating from 1991, is seen as heavily loaded in favour of the UK.

Under current rules, if the Manx government wants to impose any fishing restrictions within its own territorial waters, in order to conserve stocks, it has to seek agreement from the UK and all the other devolved governments.

Fish producers' chief executive Tom Bryan-Brown says the regulations have always favoured the UK, but the new agreement should help redress the balance: