German TV crew joins ormer hunt

MILLIONS of television viewers across Germany will learn about one of Guernsey's traditional pastimes. Television journalist and director Carsten Rau has been in the Channel Islands making a documentary for the Hamburg-based German channel Nord Deutsche Rundfunk.

The 45-minute film, which will be shown on an award-winning programme about life near the sea, includes a feature on the role of ormering within the Guernsey community.

'In Germany all the programmes about Guernsey just show tourism, business and the life in and around the Town.

'I wanted to do a programme that showed more than that and showed more than just one side of life in the islands,' said Mr Rau, who has also researched the documentary and will provide the voiceover.

'Then I heard about ormering. That is something typical for the Channel Islands and will be interesting for German viewers who normally just see one side of life in the islands.'

Local shoregatherers Andy Ashplant, Vince Helmot and Steve Evans were filmed by Mr Rau ormering off the Lihou Island causeway. The three go for fun and eat their catch rather than sell for profit.

'I got a call from one of the Sea Fisheries officers asking if I would help a German film crew with their programme about ormering.

'I've got to say that I thought it was a joke,' said Mr Ashplant, owner of Beeton's fish and chip shop.

'We thought it would be a laugh and it has been brilliant,' said Mr Helmot, a port signals officer.

The low of 1.3 metres at 2.55pm last Monday was the last ormering tide in what has been a disappointing season.

'The tides have been poor all year and these last three have been particularly bad because they have just not been low enough,' said Mr Ashplant.

Sea Fisheries officer David Wilkinson agreed.

'The tides have not been as low as some years so many of the better ormer beds off the south coast have not been accessible.

'Ormers have been gathered on the south but the best spots are quite deep and have therefore been inaccessible,' he said.

'The east and west have been easier to collect ormers because they have shallower waters with gentler seabed slopes.'

He added that, as usual, earlier tides produced well. But he added that, because of the relatively high tides, no new ground was uncovered during the season.

Islanders had to be active early on to find most ormers because by mid-season the existing grounds had already been well turned.

Ormering was just one aspect of Channel Island life that Mr Rau, cameraman Florian Melzer and sound technician Thorsten Silbermann investigated during their 12 days in the Channel Islands.

After visiting Jersey, they came to Guernsey and visited Herm and Sark.

'We have had such a busy schedule and we just did not have time to go to Alderney.

'Instead I decided to focus on one of the smaller islands like Herm which normally gets very little attention from the media,' said Mr Rau.

He added that he and the crew had enjoyed their time in the islands.

'The islands are certainly very special and have outstanding beauty. I have respect for the local water users because the currents and tides mean that the waters are dangerous.

'The people in the islands are very friendly and have given us a great time while we have been here.'