Sea extension frees us from EU’s shackles

This is without doubt the most significant development for our islands’ fisheries in most of our lifetimes, as it potentially frees us from the shackles of the European Union’s Common Fisheries Policy, viewed by much of the rest of the world as one of the most destructive fisheries management regimes on the planet.

From now the Bailiwick has full sovereignty over our waters, meaning we can introduce whatever fisheries rules we, as a community of islands, see fit.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind local politicians and civil servants that the fish in our waters are a public resource and that it is their responsibility to introduce new fisheries legislation which reflects that fact. We need to find uses for these precious, finite resources that benefit the most islanders, whilst at the same time conserving them for future generations.

I have fished from Guernsey’s shores since 2010 and from my own boat since 2013 and the observable decline in fish stocks in just that short time has been shocking. When you witness a declining trend of fewer fish and smaller fish each year, that is a key scientific indicator that stocks are collapsing.

On 2 July 1992 the Canadian government introduced a full moratorium on northern cod after the Newfoundland fishery, which had been feeding mankind and shaping societies for over 500 years, collapsed. The biomass of cod had fallen to less than 1% of natural levels. Despite this moratorium the fishery still hasn’t appreciably recovered almost 30 years later…

Anglers are the single, largest user/stakeholder group where this island’s wetfish fisheries are concerned. When it comes to island-wide elections their vote will be important. If you’re a local angler, what new rules would you like to see introduced?

GREG WHITEHEAD

Guernsey Press

angling correspondent.