Island fishermen involved in the multi-million pound scallop industry are concerned about the future in light of the confusion over Brexit.

The scallop fishing season is now fully under way and runs from November 1 through to May 31 and so includes the date when the UK officially leaves the EU.

But as hard working island fishing folk continue their ’tough’ job over the winter there are worries about what might happen if there is a deal or no deal in Brexit.

One of their main concerns is that the road transport links to the Calais hub in France are maintained.

It is from the French port that supplies of scallops are transported to lucrative markets in France, Italy and Spain.

French supermarket giant Carrefour is a major customer of Manx scallops and it is often to be found served up in eating houses around the country.

The Brexit alert was raised by the island’s boss of the Manx Fish Producers Organisation.

Chief executive Dr David Beard said: ’It is difficult to make valid plans for the future while there is so much confusion and uncertainty over Brexit.

’At present there are all sorts of outcomes and possibilities so it is very difficult to make any contingency plans.’

He warned that in a ’worse case scenario’ supplies of scallops caught by Manx fishermen might have to be frozen and stockpiled after the March 29 Brexit cut-off time.

A frozen product not only limits the range of marketing options but would also affect the pricing structure and the market supply.

’But the problem is that at the moment we don’t know enough and that is certainly a problem,’ he said.

Speaking from his office at the Heritage Centre on the Quay in Peel, Dr Beard said there were close links with the island’s government and the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture, and the minister Geoffrey Boot.

Dr Beard said:’We have representatives on the scallop management board who advise the minister on issues such as sustainability and maintaining the scallop industry in the island.’

The organisation represents all of the 36 Manx vessels involved in scallop fishing from the island as well as a number of whelk, crab and lobster boats.

Some 100 people work on these fishing boats with around 150 permanent staff at the processing yards and this is boosted by seasonal staff taken on during the scallop season which runs between November and May and is worth an estimated £12million to the Manx economy.

Dr Beard has regular contact with crews who operate from Peel, Port St Mary, Douglas and Ramsey.

He told Business News: ’They are an intelligent and very inquisitive bunch of people who I have the greatest respect for. They do a tough job and obviously any concerns such as that over Brexit can be a worry for people.’

He said the majority of Manx scallops are exported to Europe.

France is the biggest consumer of the island’s ’premium’ scallops which are seen as a delicacy there.

Italy and Spain are also customers.

Mr Beard said one of the biggest concerns is maintaining road transport links in the months ahead.

He said maintaining the entry point to the European mainland at Calais was crucial. There have already been difficulties with the recent rioting in France which has affected both transport through Calais and also reduced the demand for scallops from the Parisian restaurants.

Other ports could be used but this adds to the transport costs and distance travelled which is a key element when supplying a fresh product.

He told Business News there were numerous possibilities that could arise from the Brexit confusion.

King scallop catch limits were imposed in Manx waters when the annual season began in November.

The Manx government said they were needed to ’protect vulnerable stocks’ amid sustainability concerns.

At the time, Environment Minister Geoffrey Boot said the quotas followed recommendations from marine scientists at Bangor University and the local fishing industry through the Scallop Management Board. Reducing the total catch would ensure that this ’continues to be a sustainable and economically worthwhile business for all those who fish for king scallops in Manx waters.’

Dr David Beard, chief executive of the Manx Fish Producers Organisation Picture: DAVID KNEALE dk181221(18)