Fears that piecemeal Government policy could damage the multi-million pound scallop industry in the South West, have been aired with Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon.
The Scallop Association, which represents nearly all catching and processing businesses in the UK, raised several issues during a two-hour meeting with Mr Benyon at Brixham aboard the scalloper MFV Korenbloem.
Chief among their concerns is the manner in that Marine Protected Areas are being created without proper consideration of the impact on traditional fishing activities.
But they are also concerned that measures introduced in Scotland and Wales could adversely the South West fleet, unless they are harmonised with England.
"Whilst we support many of the proposals, we impressed on him the importance of harmonising arrangements around the UK," Mark Greet, the chairman of the association, said.
"Our members have concerns regarding differing application of management regimes applying around the UK which will potentially stop our nomadic vessels from their long-term harvesting strategy.
"This is what makes their operations so sustainable – harvesting beds in rotation every few years.
"The Minister told us he is working with his counterparts in the other administrations to try and ensure that this can continue."
The scallops are the third most important species landed by value in the UK with first sales of £45m in 2009.
Onshore the sector supports 14 major processing companies which collectively employ 750 people. Exports to France, Spain and Portugal account for 70 per cent of sales worth approximately £80 million.
More than 4,500 tonnes of scallops worth £6.4 million were landed in Brixham last year, while significant catches are also landed at Plymouth, Falmouth and Newlyn.
The Shellfish Association says it is committed to securing a sustainable scallop industry and underlined the steps already in progress to ensure responsible management of the fishery.
They include the development of a UK Scallop Industry good practice guide while fishermen are also working towards the Marine Stewardship Council standard for sustainability in the English Channel scallop fishery.
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