A MAJOR expansion of Jersey’s network of Marine Protected Areas will be implemented next week.
The new protections, which have previously been hailed as “a pivotal moment for Jersey’s marine environment” by the Blue Marine Foundation, are set to come into effect on Tuesday 1 September.
It will see the proportion of the Island’s territorial waters protected from dredging and trawling rise from 6.5% to 21.7%, as part of an overhaul of fisheries regulations approved in March in a bid to support the long-term sustainability of the marine environment and fishing industry.
The change marks the culmination of efforts to expand the Marine Protected Areas network through the government’s Marine Spatial Plan process, which has included consultation with fishing industry representatives, environmental organisations and other marine users over the past three years.
Environment Minister Mary Le Hegerat said: “Jersey’s seas are one of the Island’s greatest natural assets.”
She continued: “Expanding our Marine Protected Area network is a significant step towards protecting the habitats that support marine life, biodiversity and sustainable fisheries.
“These measures are evidence-led, have been developed through extensive consultation and form an important part of our long-term vision for the management of Jersey’s marine environment.”
The government has stated that the protected habitats include “structurally complex zones” that act as nursery and feeding areas for commercially and ecologically important marine life.
Francis Binney, the government’s head of marine resources, said that “a healthy marine environment and a successful fishing industry go hand in hand”.
“Protecting important habitats today helps ensure that Jersey’s waters remain productive and biologically rich in the future,” he added.
“At the same time, we recognise the challenges facing the fishing industry and are committed to working with fishers to build a resilient and economically sustainable sector.”
Mr Binney contended that the change was “not about choosing between conservation and fishing”.
“It is about ensuring that Jersey continues to have both healthy seas and a successful fishing industry for decades to come,” he said.
