Amendment to Sea Fisheries (Trawling, Netting and Dredging) (Jersey) Regulations 2001

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A decision made to approve the proposal to amend the Sea Fisheries (Netting, Traeling and Dredging) (Jersey) Regulations 2001 - engine power of vessels.

Subject:	Amendment to the Sea Fisheries (Trawling, Netting and Dredging)(Jersey) Regulations 2001
Decision Reference:	MD-PE-2006-0003	Exempt clause(s):		n/a
Type of Report (oral or written):	Written	Person Giving Report (if oral):		n/a
elephone or e-mail Meeting?	n/a	Report File ref:		6/1/4
Written Report – Title:	Amendment to the Sea Fisheries (Trawling, Netting and Dredging)(Jersey) Regulations 2001	Written report – Author:		Mike Smith (Senior Fisheries Inspector)
Decision(s): Approve the proposal to amend the Sea Fisheries (Netting, Trawling and Dredging)(Jersey) Regulations to stipulate that the maximum registered engine power of a vessel engaged in fishing with a beam trawl/beam trawls is limited to 221 kw and that a maximum permitted aggregate beam length of 9 metres is adopted.
Reason(s) for decision: The restrictions will provide additional security for the sustainability of the marine resource and have the support of both local and French fishermen.
Action required: The Law Drafstman is requested to prepare the necessary amendment. The Senior Fisheries Inspector should issue law drafting instructions to the law draftsman to prepare the amendment.
Signature: (Minister/ Assistant Minister)			Date of Decision:

Amendment to Sea Fisheries (Trawling, Netting and Dredging) (Jersey) Regulations 2001

PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

AMENDMENT TO SEA FISHERIES (TRAWLING, NETTING AND DREDGING)( JERSEY )REGULATIONS 2001

A item

Purpose of the Report

To authorise an amendment to the regulations to enable better and more efficient management of the marine resource by restricting the power of beam trawlers and the size of beam/beams attached to trawls that may be used for fishing by such vessels.

The proposed regulation has the endorsement of the Committees established under the terms of the UK/France Granville Bay Treaty.

Background

Historically several large trawlers (both French and British) have fished in the Jersey territorial sea and adjacent French waters using a heavy beam attached to a trawl which they drag across the seabed. For a number of years French and Jersey fishermen meeting at the Joint Advisory Council (JAC) debated the need for restrictions to be imposed on this method of fishing and earlier in the year they agreed to restrict the number and engine power of trawlers utilising this fishing method and the length of the beams being used. Their proposals were accepted by the Joint Management Committee (JMC) and have now been endorsed by the Marine Resources Panel.

The restrictions recommended are made up of two management measures; the first relates to a licensing scheme for this method of fishing and was approved in November 2005 by the Planning and Environment Committee. The second measure relates to the introduction of a horsepower limit and maximum beam length and it is this latter measure that needs approval.

Because of the discussions already taking place, the Planning and Environment Committee requested and secured law drafting time for this measure.

Discussion

This form of fishing in inshore waters is damaging to the long term sustainability of the resource and to the marine environment. The proposed amendment to the trawling regulations will impose a prohibition on the use of large beam trawls by powerful vessels in the three to twelve mile area of territorial sea around Jersey. (The area inside 3 miles is already protected). This will bring our regulations in to line with those in place around the UK and Guernsey.

The proposal is to further amend the Sea Fisheries (Netting, Trawling and Dredging)(Jersey) Regulations to stipulate that the maximum registered engine power of a vessel engaged in fishing with a beam trawl/beam trawls is 221 kw and the maximum permitted aggregate beam length is 9 metres.

There are currently no Jersey registered and licensed fishing vessels using beam trawls that exceed these parameters therefore the proposed measures will not impose any restrictions on the existing locally based industry. It is understood that the French authorities will be adopting similar measures for the French waters covered by the Granville Bay Agreement early in 2006.

Conclusion

The proposed restrictions will provide additional security for the sustainability of the marine resource and have the support of both local and French fishermen.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the proposal to amend the Sea Fisheries (Netting, Trawling and Dredging)(Jersey) Regulations to stipulate that the maximum registered engine power of a vessel engaged in fishing with a beam trawl/beam trawls is limited to 221 kw and that a maximum permitted aggregate beam length of 9 metres is adopted.

If the proposal is agreed, then the Senior Fisheries Inspector should be instructed to issue law drafting instructions to the law draftsman.

Written by:	Mike Smith (Senior Fisheries Inspector)

Approved by:	Chris Newton, Director of Environment Department

Endorsed by:

14th December 2005

File ref: ED\15\02

Ministerial Decision Case ref: MD-PE-2006-0003