ICES divisions 6a and 7a queen scallop fishery closure
»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp Marine Management Organisation (MMO) alongside UK Fishing Administrations (UKFAs) and the Isle of Man Department of the Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) are closing ICES divisions 6a and 7a (see map below) to the queen scallop (Aequipecten opercularis) fishery from 1 April â€� 30 June 2024.
»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp closure is designed to offer protection for queen scallops during part of their spawning season and support future growth in the population. Further information on the scientific evidence collected on queen scallops is available here: and . Â
»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp closure will apply to all EU, Isle of Man and UK vessels.
»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp UKFAs and DEFA are committed to ensuring fisheries are managed to a level where stocks are healthy and fished sustainably; the marine environment is protected; and economic return for fishers is maximised without impacting stock sustainability.
What happens next?Â
»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp closure will be enacted by variation within the appropriate fishing vessel licences. »Ê¹ÚÌåÓýappse will be completed by the following:
- MMO for UK vessels fishing in ICES divisions 6a and 7a and EU vessels fishing in 6a and 7a apart from Isle of Man waters.
- for Scottish vessels in ICES divisions 6a and 7a.
- Â for Welsh vessels in ICES divisions 6a and 7a.
- for Northern Irish vessels fishing in ICES divisions 6a and 7a.
- for IOM vessels fishing in IOM and UK waters in ICES divisions 6a and 7a. A separate licence is required to fish for queen scallops for all nationalities fishing in IOM waters.