Politics
MLC’s Bid to Claim More Sea
Paul Craine is asking for Tynwald to support a policy to give the island the benefits of maritime holdings up to the median line between the island and the UK.
An MLC is to seek Tynwald support to instruct the gov to enter talks with the UK to allow the island to benefit from more of the seas around us.
Paul Craine is asking for Tynwald to support a policy to the ‘benefits of maritime holdings up to the median line between the island and the United Kingdom’.
Currently the island has rights for up to 12 miles out after a deal between the UK and the island in 1991 which cost taxpayers £800,000 and a share of the petroleum licence fees and royalties in respect of the entire UK seabeds.
Mr Craine is following up a petition put forward by Charles Kerruish (not that one) and Phil Craine who say that it was the dedicated initiative of Nigel Crowe RBV, who died in August.
His motion, to go to November Tynwald, would see Tynwald calling on CoMin to enter discussions with the UK’s Ministry of Justice and the Crown Estates Commissioners to grant benefits up to the median point between ourselves and the UK.
What isn’t clear is whether any possible deal would mean an extension of the island’s territorial waters. If it did and given that the Steam Packet doesn’t hold a license to sell alcohol in Manx waters, then while we may gain more of a fair share of the sea, the Packet would have to keep the bar closed for longer.
