30 July 2012
The Marine Resources section of the Department of the Environment has published its annual report.
The report details the state of the marine environment and the monitoring, research and management programmes that the Marine Resources team are currently undertaking.
It covers a range of areas from the use and limits of Jersey’s territorial waters to the levels and monitoring of hazardous and radioactive substances and the human impact on the marine environment. The report also fulfils the team’s requirements under its various local and international reporting obligations and agreements.
Marine Resources Section Leader Mike Smith said “This is a wide-ranging report covering all aspects of our work, from the monitoring of non-indigenous species to issuing licences to commercial fishing boats. It contains some interesting findings and details of some of the work that we have been doing. For instance, it includes the 2011 findings of our acoustic fish tagging project – one of the few studies of its kind in Europe – which will provide us with a significant step towards our understanding of various species.
“The role of the section has changed significantly in recent years and this report reflects that change. The work includes our core job of regulating commercial and recreational fishing and aquaculture but it also has a much wider environmental remit.”
The key findings include:
- highest landings of lobster ever recorded
- highest production of pacific oyster
- Ramsar management plans in place
- Marine Stewardship Council Accreditation for lobster fishery
The report also recorded that sightings of bottlenose dolphins were fewer in 2011 than 2010 but still above the 10-year average.
The Minister for the Environment, Deputy Rob Duhamel, said “The Island’s coastal and marine environment is one of its best assets. We must strive to keep our seas healthy, clean and productive with an eye on long term sustainability.”
Marine Resources - 2011 Annual Report (government and administration section)
gov.je