Scallop landings up slightly on last year

Shellfish of an 'exceptionally high' quality

Eleven weeks into the King Scallop season around 885 tonnes of the shellfish have been landed.

The figure represents 37.5% of the total allowable catch of 2,352 tonnes.

The season runs from November to May with this year's catch allowance up 20 per cent on the 2023/24 season.

Catch rates are slightly up on the corresponding period of last year, and - due to the high concentration of stocks - vessels have been spending less time at sea in search of the Scallops.

After excellent weather for fishing in November and much of December recent conditions have been more challenging. 

However, Dr David Beard from the Isle of Man Fish Producers Association says boats have been managing to get out and land stock.

After the success of ongoing conservation measures the quality of the scallops landed has been exceptionally high.