Draft Sea Fisheries (Licensing of Fishing Boats) (Amendment) (Jersey) Regulations 200-.

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A decision made (05/06/2006) regarding Draft Sea Fisheries (Licensing of Fishing Boats) (Amendment) (Jersey) Regulations 200-.

Subject:	Draft Sea Fisheries (Licensing of Fishing Boats)(Amendment)(Jersey) Regulations 200-
Decision Reference:	MD-PE-2006-0068		Exempt clause(s):	n/a
Type of Report: (oral or written)	Written		Person Giving Report (if oral):	n/a
Telephone or e-mail Meeting?	n/a		Report File ref:	6.1.8
Written report – Title	Draft Amendment to Sea Fisheries (Licensing of Fishing Boats)(Jersey) Regulations 2003
Written report – Author (name and job title)	Mike Smith (Senior Fisheries Inspector)
Decision(s): The draft Sea Fisheries (Licensing of Fishing Boats)(Amendment)(Jersey) Regulations 200- are approved for lodging and debate at the earliest opportunity.
Reason(s) for decision: The regulations will afford better protection for the marine environment and have been recommended by fishermen, scientists and fisheries admistrators of Jersey and France. France has already introduced equivalent legislation and it is important that Jersey introduces this legislation with the minimum of delay.
Action required: States Greffe to arrange for the draft to be lodged and debated at the earliest opportunity.
Signature: (Minister/ Assistant Minister)		Date of Decision: 5 June 2006

Draft Sea Fisheries (Licensing of Fishing Boats) (Amendment) (Jersey) Regulations 200-.

		Item No:
		Date:

PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

DRAFT AMENDMENT TO SEA FISHERIES (LICENSING OF FISHING BOATS)(JERSEY)REGULATIONS 2003

A item

Purpose of the Report

To approve the draft Sea Fisheries (Licensing of Fishing Boats)(Amendment)(Jersey) Regulations 200- and to authorise that those Regulations be lodged for debate within the minimum time period (six weeks).

Background

The Granville Bay fisheries treaty sets out the requirements for two types of permits, access and fishing. The current regulations established the system of access permits and that is now working well. The regulations do not however make any provision for the fishing permits, which are an essential tool for the management of the area subject to the regime.

Following lengthy negotiations between French and Jersey fishermen at the Joint Advisory Council (established by the treaty to facilitate management of the joint fishery) a number of measures were approved by the Joint Management Committee (established by the treaty for senior administrators to make recommendations to the authorities of Jersey and France concerning the management of the joint fishery) relating to the control of beam trawlers. It was agreed that a maximum of 5 Jersey beam trawlers and 3 French beam trawlers would be able to operate in the Granville Bay Area and that this should be managed by invoking Granville bay fishing permits for beam trawling. It was intended that both parties would introduce legislation to give effect to the proposal by 1st June 2006.

The then Environment and Public Services Committee endorsed this proposal and drafting of the amendment commenced in January 2006.

Discussion

The draft meets the requirements of the proposal both in terms of establishing fishing permits and controlling beam trawling activity and is ready for lodging with an accompanying report. The French government introduced appropriate legislation on 1st January 2006 and was assured that Jersey would progress legislation as rapidly as possible; it is therefore important that this draft is approved within the minimum timescale. The industry was made aware of the likelihood of the introduction of this legislation some time ago and as there are currently no more than 5 Jersey vessels using beam trawls, it is not contentious but will better safeguard both fish stocks and the wider marine ecosystem.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the draft be approved and lodged for debate at the earliest opportunity.

Written by:	Mike Smith (Senior Fisheries Inspector)

Approved by:	Chris Newton (Director of the Environment)

Endorsed by:	[If other department involved -Director’s name and Directorate]

Attachments: Draft Sea Fisheries (Licensing of Fishing Boats)(Amendment)(Jersey) Regulations 200-.

Report to accompany draft including Financial/Manpower implications

MD-PE-2006-0068

6/1/8

1st June 2006