Calls for ormer size limit to be increased ‘while stocks are good’
A fishmonger has called for the minimum size of ormers to be increased by a centimetre in a bid to stop over-fishing of the stocks.
So far this year has been a bumper season for ormer feeds. Jason Hamon, owner of Surf & Turf on Castle Pier, said he feared that over-collection meant unwanted ormers were just being thrown away, and increasing the minimum size would preserve stocks.
Mr Hamon said that this year he was often being offered more ormers than he could sell, and was turning would-be sellers away.
‘I have regular people who have sold to us for years and I obviously go to them first, but we get offered a lot more than we can sell,’ he said.
‘I have had people say what do I do with them now? I would not be at all surprised if some get dumped.’
Sea Fisheries currently stipulates a minimum catch size of 8cm for ormers taken from the shore. Mr Hamon would like to see this to be increased to 9cm and said he had approached Sea Fisheries about this.
‘They should act while stocks are good, to increase numbers.
'If they put it up to 9cm there would still be plenty but it would help stocks. Giving an ormer an extra centimetre to grow will give it a chance to spawn at least one more time.
‘If they wait till it’s too late they will have to have a ban.’
A spokesman for Sea Fisheries said there were no immediate plans to increase minimum landing sizes.
‘But this is one of a number of measures that could be taken to further manage the fishery if there was evidence of a decline in the stock or where scientific evidence supported such a move,’ he said.
Although Sea Fisheries enforce a minimum size, officers do not formally collect statistics on ormer catches. The spokesman added that based on observations during inspections of catches, it was currently believed that the population appeared to be in good health.
The 9cm minimum size is used in Jersey to protect stocks, where a bag limit of 20 ormers per person, per day, is also enforced.
The Marine Biology section of la Societe Guernesiaise said it was due to discuss the suggested size increase at a upcoming meeting.
Jamie Hooper from La Societe’s commercial arm, Guernsey Environmental Services, said a increase in minimum size of catches would be a positive thing in terms of stocks and sustainability.
‘It would be a simple step to implement and I don’t think there would be much objection,’ he said.
‘An 8cm ormer is really very small once you have prepared it for the plate.’
