The officer in charge of Jersey's Marine Resources admits the fishing profession is a 'difficult one' to be in right now.
It used to rely heavily on shellfish species, but stock levels have declined, with lobster and brown crab at their lowest levels in 20 years.
But, Jersey's fishers are being told that the government's looking to provide opportunities 'where they can' to support them.
Alex Plaster, Jersey's Marine Resources Manager:
"Some species are doing better, things like scallops, so it's not all doom and gloom on the stock side.
'"We are looking to provide opportunities where we can, and it seems to be working for this year.
"The work we're doing around licensing new fishing activities will help, and we're working on this with other species such as octopus."
Over the weekend (Saturday 23 August) several new trail licenses came into effect for commercial fishers to catch and land bluefin tuna, with the locally caught fish being sold in the market on Monday for the first time.
Read: Weekend of firsts as local tuna hits Jersey Fish Market counter - Channel 103
It was hailed a 'massive boost' by one of the businesses, Crabs Direct, which landed a 43kg bluefin:
Tina Burt said:
"This is amazing for the industry. We're really struggling at the moment. There is not a lot out there to catch."
We're told they have a license to land up to two tonnes, up until December.
Shear relief for Romerils as Shaun the Sheep found!
Electricity companies sign four-year deal with EDF
Filming underway for Bergerac Series 3
Teenagers wanted to join Jersey Youth Assembly
Jersey Bulls knocked out of FA Cup
Residence and employment rules simplified
RNLI Jersey back on Saving Lives at Sea
Can ewe believe it... Shaun the Sheep is missing!
Comments
Add a comment