’Fed-up’ scallop crews were told not to go out fishing over the weekend because social distancing in the lockdown has slowed down processing work.

It followed some ’very good’ landings of Manx shellfish last week.

And two more shipments of scallops are today (Tuesday) on their way to the French port of Boulogne-Sur-Mer.

One of the loads was heading for the Channel ports via Grimsby while the other was travelling again to Scotland in a similar fashion as two other missions in the last couple of weeks, as reported by Isle of Man Newspapers.

But it also emerged yesterday (Monday) that Manx fishing boats were advised to stay in port over the weekend.

Dr David Beard, chief executive of the Manx Fish Producers Organisation (MFPO), said: ’We had to stop fishing with the scallop boats on Saturday and Sunday.

’It was because a lot of product [shellfish] was with the processors. Because of the lockdown and with social distancing the processing staff was reduced to about 40% of capacity.’

He added: ’There were some very good landings [of scallops] last week so we needed the weekend space to be able to make sure that freezer space was being used efficiently and make sure the freezers were not being filled up because that would stop fishing altogether.

’The weather was pretty good over the weekend so the scallop crews missed two days fishing. They wanted to go out. Obviously when it is good weather they want to go out fishing. They were a bit fed up. But they understand Manx processors have supported them well over the last nine months. We all have to work together.’

Fishing bosses have also been grappling with paperwork and red tape in the wake of Brexit.