Sea Fishing licences to be examined

Hopes for a new system to support better enforcement of law

The issue of sea fishing licence fees is to be examined by the Department of Environment Food and Agriculture.

The work is to be carried out by a new sub-group of the Future Fisheries working group - the body set up to deliver DEFA’s strategy of the same name.

Vessels may only fish in Manx waters if they are licensed and at present, a flat fee, set by Tynwald every two years, is applied to all vessels even though they have different conditions and fish for different species.

DEFA Minister Geoffrey Boot says the fisheries sector is a valuable part of the Manx economy and they aim to work with the industry to devise a system that better supports enforcement of the law, implementation of management schemes and a better scientific understanding of stocks.

Licences issued under current regulations expire on 31st March 2017.

As an interim measure while the matter is fully explored, the Minister will this month ask Tynwald to set a fee payable for just one year, 2017-2018.