Fishers warn new rules could risk safety

The expansion of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) off the coast of Jersey could make fishing "more dangerous", the chairman of the island's fishermen's association has said.

On Thursday, States members voted through plans to quadruple the size of these zones, and bring in new rules for fishing practices.

Conservationists called it a "pivotal moment for Jersey's marine environment".

Chair of Jersey Fishermen's Association, Stephen Viney, said while he supported the aims, the plans "risk making an already difficult occupation even harder and potentially more dangerous".

The plans, passed through the states with unanimous approval on Thursday, also ban practices like dredging and trawling in those areas.

Currently, just under 7% of Jersey's waters have those protections, but that will rise to 21.7% in September this year, before adding an extra 1.9% in 2030.

Viney said he was "supportive of efforts to protect the marine environment and sustainable fisheries" but said the changes do not provide a "clear plan to ensure the viability of the industry".

According to the association, the new protected areas cover "roughly 80% of the most productive fishing grounds traditionally used by the local fleet".

Viney said the changes would see fishing activity displaced into "fewer areas and further offshore".

He added: "For an industry that already faces significant challenges, this displacement risks making an already difficult occupation even harder and potentially more dangerous, particularly for smaller boats that may be forced to work further from shelter and in deeper water".

Speaking in the States Assembly on Thursday, Environment Minister Steve Luce said the changes related to some of the most "complex and controversial fishing techniques" and were therefore "lengthy and technical".

He also said the expansion of MPAs would have a "real impact on the lives of the island's fishing community".

However, he argued they were necessary to "help ensure a sustainable future" for the sector.

Some politicians, including the chair of the environment scrutiny panel, deputy Hilary Jeune, had hoped to see 30% of the seabed protected by 2030, a target still considered a possibility.

The changes have been welcomed by environmental charities, including the Blue Marine Foundation, which said it was the result of "years of careful work, conversation and collaboration."

Freddie Watson, from the foundation, said: "This is a pivotal moment for Jersey's marine environment... by protecting these places, we're giving marine life the space it needs to recover, supporting more resilient fisheries and helping our seas adapt to the pressures of climate change."

Alan Le Maistre, chief executive of the National Trust for Jersey, described it as an important decision which would protect "some of the most valuable habitats in our natural heritage."

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