Marine Management Organisation
On 2 April 2024 the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) acting on behalf of all four UK Fisheries Administrations (UKFAs), following a consultation (7 December 2023 14 January 2024), announced a closure to the king scallop (Pectens maximus) dredge fishery from 15 May 30 September 2024 in ICES division 7d to UK and EU vessels over 10 meters in length and in the Lyme Bay area of 7e to UK and EU vessels over 12 meters in length. On 16 April 2024 a new 2023 CEFAS king scallop stock assessment was published.
MMO is committed to using the best available evidence to support decision-making and although the latest stock assessment from Cefas indicated the stock in area 7d is in a slightly better state than previously understood, due to uncertainties in the data, and evidence of the impact in increased effort observed in May and June of 2023, MMO has decided not to revise the start date of the closure in either area, with the closure in 7d starting on 15 May 2024 for all over 10 metre vessels until 30 September 2024, and the closure of Lyme Bay area of 7e starting on 15 May 2024 until 30 September 2024 for all over 12 metre vessels.
The decision, on behalf of all four Fisheries Administrations, (UKFAs) follows consultation feedback, industry engagement and scientific advice on protecting stocks during spawning.
What happens next? The closure will be enacted by a licence variation.
The variation will include:
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A prohibition to all vessels using scallop dredges over 10 m in length from 15 May - 30 September 2024 in UK waters of ICES division 7d.
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A prohibition to all vessels using scallop dredges over 12 m in length from 15 May - 30 September 2024 in Lyme Bay area of 7e (ICES rectangles 29E6, 29E7, 30E6 and 30E7).