Steady start to Isle of Man scallop season

Catch rates up, prices down – but overall optimism about 2024-2025 Manx scallop fishery

The Isle of Man scallop season opened on 1 November, with those involved reporting a ‘quiet’ start to the fishery, but also expressing optimism that over the course of the season, which runs to the end of May, overall landings would be good.

Dr David Beard, CEO of the Manx FPO, which undertakes its own pre-season survey work, as well as supporting ongoing assessments by Bangor University on behalf of the Isle of Man government, told FN: “It’s been relatively quiet start to the season, with just 23 vessels fishing in the first week, compared to last year.

“I would expect numbers of vessels to increase in the next few weeks as the rest of the Northern Ireland fleet arrives and some late Manx starters join the fishery. Fishing so far is on the west and east coasts, with high catch rates as would be expected at the start of the season. Over 90% of boats are catching their daily catch limit of 800kg within a few hours of starting fishing.

“The fishery has a TAC in place of 2,352t, a 20% increase on the 2023-2024 season. This was enabled by an increase in the abundance index recorded in pre-season surveys, which recorded the highest levels for both adults and juveniles in the 32-year survey history, and follows the recommended changes under ICES Protocol 3.

“The industry survey similarly noted the highest densities seen in its seven-year survey history, with increases on all grounds.”

The continued spell of high pressure above the British Isles has helped the good start, with boats able to manage a full week’s fishing, in relatively calm conditions.

Will Caley of Isle of Man Sea Products, the largest processor on the island, told FN: “The good news we are seeing is the catch rates on the ground. We have the larger boats tied up on the pier by 9.30am – they are taking their daily bag limit in just two tows. Even the smaller under-10m boats are coming back in by lunchtime.

“On price, though, it is another story. We have had to drop what we are paying to £12/ kg – the sheer volume of product being landed in the French fishery has forced prices down for everyone, even with the much better roe-on product that we have.

“Scallop yields are averaging 16% to 17%, which is OK for this time of year, with around half the landings having good roes. We’ll see that proportion rise as the season progresses, and there is also the possibility of an increase in the daily quotas being agreed before the Christmas season kicks in.

“We have just today, as well, welcomed a few more Northern Irish and Scottish boats to the island. Volume-wise, we are coping OK, with the vast majority of landings going straight to the fresh market. The reduced time at sea is compensating boats for the poor prices, and overall, we’re hopeful that this will be a good season for the fleet.”

This story was taken from the latest issue of Fishing News. For more up-to-date and in-depth reports on the UK and Irish commercial fishing sector, subscribe to Fishing News here or buy the latest single issue for just £3.50 here.

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Main image credit: Darren Purves