Isle of Man 0-3 NM King Scallop Licences Policy

Department of Environment Food and Agriculture Isle of Man 0-3 NM King Scallop Licence Policy Issue 1 – November 2016 Future Issue of Isle of Man 0-3 NM King Scallop Licences In 2015, Tynwald approved a five-year strategy (Future Fisheries) for the sustainable development of the Isle of Man’s sea fisheries and marine environment. The strategy identified five themes, including: • Managing sea fisheries • Safeguarding the environment • Developing sea fisheries • Managing resources • Working with customers Priority action areas within these themes include sustainable stock management and effort regulation. To successfully protect the Isle of Man king scallop populations from over exploitation and to encourage sustainable management of resources, the Department of Environment Food and Agriculture (DEFA) needs to ensure the stock is effectively managed and fishing effort is controlled. Following a public consultation regarding future management of the 0-3 NM area, a reduct ion in the number of l icences issued for k ing scal lop has been implemented. New l icences wi l l be issued to those vessels that were licensed to fish for king scallops when the consultation was published, which had a 0 3 permit, and which could demonstrate a track record for fishing in the 0-3 within the reference period 2010-2016, and an appropriate economic link to the Isle of Man. The following criteria were applied; 1. Number of seasons spent fishing in the 0-3 (potentially 6 season), 2. Number of days spent fishing in the 0-3, 3. Total landings of king scallop attributed to fishing in the 0-3, 4. Economic link: proportion of landings to Manx ports versus non-Manx ports. The Department has established a robust process for the future issue and retention of Isle of Man 0-3 NM King Scallop Licences to make certain the stock is not exposed to increasing fishing pressure and also to ensure that licences do not become tradable commodities. • Isle of Man 0-3 NM King Scallop Licences, issued as part of the consolidated Isle of Man Fishing Licence, remain the property of the Department of Environment Food and Agriculture; Department of Environment Food and Agriculture Isle of Man 0-3 NM King Scallop Licence Policy Issue 1 – November 2016 • Isle of Man 0-3 NM King Scallop Licences are non-transferable, non-saleable, and return to the Department on the disposal or loss of the vessel; In order to maintain operational continuity, track record, fishing opportunity, and to minimize financial speculation and risk to stock, the following in-principle guidelines will apply; • Current Isle of Man 0-3 NM King Scallop Licence holders will receive initial consideration with regard to that licence if they wish to replace the vessel to which it relates; • Current Isle of Man 0-3 NM King Scallop Licence holders may retain the licence, for a period of time to be specified by the Department, to facilitate the replacement of the vessel to which the licence relates. • On the purchase of a vessel, in respect of which an Isle of Man 0-3 NM King Scallop Licence had been issued, the new owner has no automatic right to an Isle of Man 0-3 NM King Scallop Licence and must make an application to the Department, assuming a licence is available. • A waiting list will not be administered for Isle of Man 0-3 NM King Scallop Licences, and no guarantee will be made as to when such licences may become available; • If a vessel is disposed of, or lost, and the Isle of Man 0-3 NM King Scallop Licence holder does not wish to pursue the fishery then the licence returns to the Department; • The Department reserves the right to retain and not re-issue an Isle of Man 0-3 NM King Scallop Licence; • The Department reserves the right to issue an Isle of Man 0-3 NM King Scallop Licence on a temporary basis or subject to whatever conditions it may deem necessary to regulate the fishery (in accordance with the Fisheries Act 2012); • Where an Isle of Man 0-3 NM King Scallop Licence is issued in a respect of a vessel which is in the ownership of a company, any change of ownership of the company or change in its directorship will cause the licence to revert to the Department. Vessel owners are strongly advised to contact the Department at the earliest opportunity should they anticipate changes to their vessel or circumstances which may affect the Isle of Man 0-3 NM King Scallop Licence or their ability to prosecute the fishery.