Much of the Manx queen scallop fishery has been closed from this week amid concerns over declining stocks.

Only the East Douglas area remains open to queenie fishing.

The move follows a further review of the fishery.

Total allowable catch for queen scallops had already been cut by 40% to just 476 tonnes this season.

And Environment Minister Geoffrey Boot warned last month there was a ’real possibility’ that there would be no queen scallop fishing at all next year.

The restrictions came after a survey carried out by Bangor University highlighted that queen scallop stocks had decreased to their lowest level since 1993.

But the head of the Manx Fish Producers’ Organisation, Dr David Beard, said there isn’t sufficient data to justify restricting catches.

Now the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture has announced that all but one area of the territorial sea will be closed to allow queen scallop stocks to recover.

A high density of adult queen scallops has been found in the East Douglas area where fishing has concentrated since the season opened.

There have been poor catch rates on the other grounds.

Fishing will continue to be permitted in the East Douglas area until the catch rate has dropped from its current level of seven bags (35kg) per hour, to a predetermined level which balances environmental and commercial considerations - or a revised trawl total allowable catch of 557 tonnes is reached.

The DEFA says the decision will enable specific data collection aimed at improving future area management options for the fishery.

Details of the decision will be communicated to the industry via a variation to licence conditions last week.

The DEFA says it has worked closely with partners from the Scallop Management Board, Manx Fish Producers’ Organisation and Bangor University to conduct the review.

Environment Minister Mr Boot said: ’Whilst we must close the rest of the territorial sea for this season, reported queen scallop catch in the East Douglas area since July 1 has remained relatively high and we can therefore keep this area open to fishing until the catch rate suggests otherwise.

’Closing the rest of the territorial sea is not a decision taken lightly, and I hope both the industry and wider public will acknowledge that this is a decision being made for the future sustainability of the industry and our queen scallop stocks.

’As well as seeking feedback from the Scallop Management Board, we have also spoken directly with industry who have provided us with some useful suggestions which have been included as part of the review.’

The Manx Government says it will continue to offer financial assistance in areas such as diversification under the Agriculture and Fisheries Grant Scheme to support the queenie fishery industry.