The Manx government has caved into Scottish demands over protection measures for the island’s scallop fishery.

Daily reporting of catches by visiting scallop trawlers was introduced earlier this month.

Fishermen in Kircudbright, which is the UK’s largest scallop landing port, said the move could put jobs and livelihoods at risk.

Dumfries and Galloway Council took up the issue with the Scottish Government which threatened to invoke a dispute resolution process.

But now DEFA has announced that from Monday (January 29) the requirement will be lifted.

Instead, fishing vessel owners and skippers who misreport their king scallop catch from Manx waters risk having their licences suspended.

The move follows further discussions between the Manx government and other Irish Sea jurisdictions.

Environment, Food and Agriculture Minister Geoffrey Boot said: ‘We hope owners and skippers will take their obligation to accurately record their catch more seriously if they know cheating won’t be tolerated and they could lose access to Manx waters.’