Nationalist party Mec Vannin has written to Scottish Cabinet Secretary Mr Ewing in support of the DEFA’s stance on daily reporting of scallop catches.

The party’s international relations officer, Allan Moore, insisted: ’This is a perfectly reasonable requirement, which will have absolutely no impact on legal takings so we are perplexed as to why Dr Murray regards this as an issue requiring your (or indeed her own) involvement.’

Mr Moore said management has helped to secure a sustainable Manx fishery, as best as has been possible over the past few decades which, when respected, will provide security of employment and income for all fishing vessels licensed to exploit our waters.

He pointed out: ’Unlike Scottish fisheries, which has received tens of millions of pounds in aid from Europe over the past four decades, the Isle of Man fisheries has no access to such support either directly or indirectly.

’As such, any interference from another government that attempts to undermine responsible and legal management of Manx fisheries for all will be extremely counter-productive.’