A new board is being set up to advise the Isle of Man government over the sustainable management of its King and Queen scallop fisheries.
Currently the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) manages both the king and queen scallop fisheries to ensure their sustainability.
Previously a Queen Scallop Management Board, made up of scientists and representatives of the catching and processing sectors from the Isle of Man, Scotland and Northern Ireland helped to advise DEFA but no similar board of experts existed to advise over king scallops.
The appointment of the board members is being finalised by DEFA in order to consider the Isle of Man queen scallop stock assessment that is prepared annually by scientists of Bangor University. The planned opening of the Isle of Man Queen Scallop fishery will be 1 July.
It is hoped that this board will manage both species more effectively than the previous arrangements.