HOPES for the Island to have a fish-processing plant could be dead in the water, it has emerged.
Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel said he has not received a business plan “from anyone in the marine resources sector”.
Speaking in the States Assembly recently, Deputy Morel said there was “no work ongoing” to create such a facility.
In 2023, then-head of the Jersey Fishermen’s Association, Don Thompson, said that he hoped the government would help with the development of a fish-processing plant in the Island. Mr Thompson said previously that without fresh ideas to protect the industry it was “heading down the road to extinction”.
Concerns have been raised in recent years about the lack of local fish and shellfish sold in Island supermarkets, with the idea of a processing plant floated in May 2021 by then-Economic Development Minister Lyndon Farnham at the height of the post-Brexit fishing dispute.
Deputy Farnham, who is now Chief Minister, has also previously spoken of his desire to explore “opportunities to enable more local seafood to be sold to the retail and hospitality sectors”.
The potential benefits of a fish-processing facility were raised in the States by Deputy Catherine Curtis, who highlighted that it could “assist in ensuring food security in Jersey”.
But Deputy Morel said: “There is, as I understand at the moment, no work ongoing on a fish-processing facility.”
Deputy Curtis questioned why this was the case, noting that it had been “a matter in discussion” for several years.
Deputy Morel responded: “To date, I have received no business plan. I have received no proposition from anyone in the marine resources sector with regard to a fish-processing plant.
“All I’ve heard is people mention that it could be a good idea to have one. I’ve said to the marine industry, provide me with a business plan and show me how that will operate, and then we can talk about it. But to date, I’ve not received any of that information.”
