Under the rules, only a small number of commercial vessels will be granted a licence to catch bass, and only by hook and line rather than nets, Environment Minister Steve Luce has said. It is believed that a maximum of 12 boats will be given a permit.
Today, the fishing community was described as being ‘split down the middle’ over the new policies, while one member of the industry claimed that the new regulations could have been avoided if fishermen had been listened to ten years ago.
However, Deputy Luce said that the changes, which came into force yesterday and were based on new information from the EU Fisheries Council and advice from Jersey’s Marine Resources Panel, were necessary to ensure the survival of the species. He added that the measures would mean that Jersey would have one of the most sustainable bass fisheries in Europe.
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