23 December 2016
Additional measures to to further protect Jersey’s bass stocks will be introduced in early 2017.
Following on from a package of measures brought forward in recent years, and taking into account further information from the EU Fisheries Council, the Minister for the Environment, Deputy Steve Luce, will make the following changes:
Commercial Fishing
- no targeting of sea bass fishing by commercial vessels
- in relation to ‘by-catch’ (fish caught unintentionally while fishing)
- there will be a monthly bass allowance of 250kg for vessels deploying fixed gillnets and traps
- there will be a bass by-catch allowance of 3% for demersal trawlers.
Recreational Fishing
only ‘catch and release’ fishing permitted. This is a practice where fish are captured, unhooked and returned to the water
total ban on setting of hooks and net (trotline) on the beach – this applies to fishing lines with baited hooks attached at intervals and laid on the beach
These new measures require changes to the fisheries legal framework and will be implemented as soon as possible in 2017.
Deputy Luce said “I completely understand the impact measures like these have on all our fishermen. These decisions will affect both livelihoods and leisure time, but it is vital for all concerned that we are committed to protecting these iconic fish. We must introduce measures that ensure the survival of the bass stock for the benefit of future generations.”
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