Ray quota cut 'would ruin fishing industry'
UK CALLS for Guernsey to slash the amount of ray caught locally would ruin the fishing industry, it has been warned.
Talks are under way with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs about helping the UK meet EU fishing quotas, with Commerce and Employment swift to offer reassurances that it cannot be forced to apply controls.
It confirmed the UK recently asked the Bailiwick to consider how it may assist in adhering to the EU Total Allowable Catches and quota controls following comments in July's States debate from Deputy Lyndon Trott – a former fisherman – who described ray as the bedrock of the island's fishing industry and sustainable.
Defra wants, he said, to unilaterally cut the quota across the industry, which would mean Guernsey could only catch 25 tonnes a year. '
The consequence of that would be that Guernsey's wet fish industry would not be sustainable,' he said.
Local fishermen have warned how damaging it would be if the cut were put in place.
Chris Courtney, pictured, predicted that most of the fleet would be 'ruined'.
