Inspections carried out at low tide recently have revealed the extent of the repairs required.
Much of the rock has been damaged by the constant pounding of the sea, and while repairs have been made over the years port engineer Mike Baudains says it is time for a complete restructure.
Mr Baudains said that inspections of the breakwater were usually made once a year and that while it had always been necessary to check for damage, the effects of the sea had made the breakwater worse in the last 20 to 30 years and more frequent repairs were now needed.
The building of the pier was finished in 1855.
