The States was told this week that, at present, the island – unlike Jersey – cannot apply for any quota because it is not a member of the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna.
However, the States has now agreed to follow the measures required by the convention and ask for it to be extended to the island.
That will not provide the island with its own quota, but it will allow Guernsey to apply to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for a share of the UK’s quota.
The proposals were introduced by the Economic Development Committee, which said it expected the initial impact on the local fishing industry would be very small.
‘The primary reason for the extension of the UK’s contracting party status is strategic, enabling the Bailiwick to access the UK Atlantic bluefin tuna quota,’ said president Sasha Kazantseva-Miller.
‘This would also place our recreational and commercial anglers on a level playing field with neighbouring jurisdictions in Jersey, the UK and France. Although the current quota is relatively low, and therefore the immediate economic benefit modest, any future increase would provide greater economic value to the Bailiwick.
‘The local fishing industry has suffered significantly from the well-documented recent octopus bloom, and access to the potentially lucrative Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery would support its economic viability.’
Over the 2026-2029 quota period, 230 tonnes of Atlantic bluefin tuna quota will be available annually for the whole of the UK, which would also include Guernsey.
This quota will be distributed via approximately 30 commercial permits, with each permit holder able to land 4-5 tonnes of Atlantic bluefin tuna. Prices vary with size and quality, but each permit is estimated to generate up to £50,000 for the licence holder. In steering through the proposal the Economic Development president said she wanted to manage expectations.
Deputy Kazantseva-Miller pointed out that it was still possible that Guernsey would not obtain any share of the UK’s quota, but her committee believed that ongoing discussions regarding the apportionment of quotas to specific regions could benefit the Bailiwick in time for the 2027 fishing season.
You need to be logged in to comment.