The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) in the Isle of Man has introduced new measures to protect three significant fishing sites in its waters by banning bottom trawling. These closed areas are located within the Western Irish Sea Mud-belt (WISMB), a vital habitat for various marine species, notably langoustines. Despite decades of extensive trawling, the area is recognized as one of the most disturbed seabeds in the North-East Atlantic, prompting DEFA’s action to safeguard vulnerable species, internationally important habitats, and carbon deposits. This move aligns with the Isle of Man’s goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
Photo: James Qualtrough
It will also allow DEFA to develop a new and sustainable fishery using low-impact methods for the lucrative langoustine market after the UK recently allocated the Isle of Man a 100 tonne quota, which if utilised, could more than double by 2026. This opportunity underscores the department’s commitment to sustainable food production, environmental protection and rich carbon deposit. Feedback from a stakeholder consultation informed these measures, reflecting input from the fishing community, NGOs, and regulators across the British Isles.
Jack Emmerson, Sea Fisheries Manager at DEFA, said: ‘The department is committed to ensuring that the new fishery is established with sustainability at its foundation and we believe that these new measures strike a balance between sustainable local food production, environmental protection and the need for greater research into the role these marine habitats have in mitigating climate change.
David Beard of the MFPO, who manages the quota, said:
‘The first landings from the newly established creel caught fishery mean the Isle of Man is once again at the forefront of sustainable fisheries management.’
The new measures will remain in place until December 2026, when research into blue carbon and seabed habitats is complete and a review of the trial fishery is expected to start.