Crab catch concerns, but no plans for controls yet
CHANGES to crab fishing regulations have been ruled out for now amid concerns about stocks, particularly those of chancre crabs, although Sea Fisheries is monitoring the situation.
A shortage of edible crab landings has become an issue facing fisheries across the British Isles. It has meant that it has become increasingly difficult to source crabs, especially chancre.
‘The reason for the decline is debatable but may be due to poor recruitment to the fishery, increase in fishing pressure, increase in predation or a combination,’ said a Sea Fisheries spokesman.
‘At the current time Sea Fisheries is not proposing any changes to the regulation of the edible crab fishery, but is monitoring the situation and may seek to implement additional measures to complement any UK-wide management plan for the fishery.’
Surf & Turf owner Jason Hamon said: ‘Every year for some time there has been a shortage of crabs.
‘Everybody wants their crab in the summertime, but there just aren’t as many available at that time of year.
‘There’s plenty in winter, but fresh crab is what is needed. So, when we do have the levels, nobody wants them but when we don’t, everybody does.’
Mr Hamon also highlighted another issue of how spider crabs dominate the local seas in the warmer seasons and often get into the pots before other species get an opportunity.
‘Spider crabs begin to come out around April time and the rest disappear from the pots because the spiders are in there first.
‘Of course, our fishermen still bring us crab, but a whole lot less now until the seasons grow colder.’
The issue has also sparked discussion in Jersey. Louis Jackson, owner of the Fresh Fish Company, which is based in St Helier, said: ‘As for the reason why [for the shortage], no one really knows.
‘There has been some talk about rising water temperatures, but it goes down to that old adage that it is more likely than not overfishing.
‘There has never been a quota, which seems a bit odd given that you have some of these big boats out in the English Channel.
‘I would put it down to the species being over-exploited. Some of the big boats in the English Channel are going out and pulling up thousands of pots. They are not Jersey vessels.’
