Consultation outcome

ICES area 7d and Lyme Bay king scallop dredge fishery closure proposals summer 2024

From:
Marine Management Organisation
Published
7 December 2023
Last updated
9 May 2024 — See all updates
This consultation has concluded

Download the full outcome

Updated decision document May 2024

PDF, 452 KB, 5 pages

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Detail of outcome

HavingOn considered2 displacementApril of2024 scallopthe dredgeMarine vesselsManagement fromOrganisation the(MMO) EUacting closureon tobehalf EUof watersall infour ICESUK divisionFisheries 7dAdministrations (May(UKFAs), –following Septembera 2023)consultation which(7 resultedDecember in2023 – 14 January 2024), announced a 39%closure increaseto inthe king scallop (Pectens maximus) landingsdredge infishery UKfrom 7d15 watersMay from– 2022-202330 forSeptember the2024 monthin ofICES May,division the7d consultationto responsesUK and scientificEU advicevessels onover 10 meters in length and in the stockLyme biomass,Bay UKFAsarea agreedof 7e to introduceUK theand followingEU closurevessels over 12 meters in UKlength. watersOn for16 theApril 2024 a new 2023 CEFAS king scallop dredgestock fishery:assessment was published.

  • ICES

    MMO divisionis 7dcommitted forto UKusing the best available evidence to support decision-making and EUalthough vesselsthe overlatest 10stock massessment from Cefas indicated the stock in lengtharea from7d 15is Mayin a slightly better state than previously understood, due to 30uncertainties Septemberin 2024.

  • Lymethe Baydata, areaand evidence of 7ethe (ICESimpact rectanglesin 29E6,increased 29E7,effort 30E6observed in May and 30E7)June forof UK2023, andMMO EUhas vesselsdecided overnot 12to mrevise the start date of the closure in lengtheither fromarea, with the closure in 7d starting on 15 May to2024 30for Septemberall 2024.
  • Thisover closure10 willmetre bevessels applieduntil to30 bothSeptember 20242024, and 2025.the Thisclosure willof remainLyme underBay reviewarea forof this7e period.starting Shouldon data15 andMay scientific2024 evidenceuntil indicate30 significantSeptember changes,2024 re-consultationfor willall occur.
over 12 metre vessels.

The closuredecision, willon bebehalf enactedof throughall afour licenceFisheries variation.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 a licence variation.

The variation will include:

  • 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.

  • 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).

Original consultation

Summary

Consultation: ICES area 7d and Lyme Bay king scallop dredge fishery closure proposals 2024 

This consultation ran from
to

Consultation description

2024 consultation  

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO), on behalf of UK Fisheries Administrations (UKFAs), is seeking views on proposals to close English waters in the ICES area 7d and Lyme Bay in ICES area 7e to the king scallop (Pectens maximus) dredge fishery in summer of 2024. The proposed closures in 7d and 7e are to protect the stock during spawning and limit the impact of fishing activity on juvenile settlement.  

The options for proposed 7d king scallop closures are:  

  • 15 May to 30 September 2024 – a closure period that aligns with the EU closure of 7d to the king scallop dredge fishery.
  • 1 July and 30 September 2024 – the same closure period as 2023.

The proposed 7e king scallop dredge fishery closure is:  

  • A closure of Lyme Bay (ICES rectangles, 30E6, 30E7, 29E6 and 29E7) aligning to the agreed closure length in ICES area 7d.
  • No closure of Lyme Bay within any time period.

MMO are also seeking views on the proposal to implement the chosen management option in area 7d for a period of two years.  

The closures would apply to EU and UK scallop dredge vessels over 10m in length in 7e and over 12m in 7d.   

The UKFAs are committed to ensuring fisheries are managed to a level where stocks are healthy and fished sustainably; the marine environment is protected; and economic return for fishers is maximised without impacting stock sustainability. 

The consultation is open from 7 December 2023 to 14 February 2024. To respond to this consultation and access further information, please see here. 

What happens next?  

MMO will review all the information received during the consultation and will publish a summary of the responses and the decision on whether to close the king scallop fishery, when and which vessels will be affected. Any closure will be enacted by a licence variation.  

2023 consultation   

Review the consultation and decision documents for the 2023 consultation below.   

The consultation document for 2023 can be found here:  

Contact information

Fisheries Management Team

Telephone: 0300 123 1032
E-mail: effort@marinemanagement.org.uk

Documents

King scallop consultation document 2024

PDF, 1.7 MB, 19 pages

Published 7 December 2023
Last updated 9 May 2024 + show all updates

  1. Details of outcome updated.

  2. Updated decision document May 2024 added.

  3. Final outcome update.

  4. First published.