Fishing downturn deeper than ever, says skipper

Mick Guille said he would not enter the industry if he was a youngster

Guernsey's fishing industry is facing a downturn "deeper than what we've ever, ever seen", according to a veteran fisherman.

Mick Guille was speaking after figures released by the States of Guernsey showed a continued decline in the volume of fish being landed in the island.

Mr Guille, who has spent decades working in the industry, said the scale of the downturn was unlike anything he or his peers had experienced.

"We've gone through highs and lows... but no-one has seen fishing as drastic as what it is at the moment," he told BBC Radio Guernsey.

Mr Guille said the downturn was being caused by a combination of factors, including overfishing, rising sea temperatures, and the impact of octopus populations on crab stocks.

"The quantities have dropped drastically the last few years... but, this time, it's really hitting it really hard," he said.

The uncertainty and lack of clear solutions had left many in the industry feeling disillusioned, he said.

"I really don't know," Mr Guille said when asked what might help reverse the trend.

He also expressed concern about the industry's appeal to younger generations.

"If I was a youngster, I wouldn't want to be doing it. "I definitely wouldn't want to be starting off," he said.

"It hasn't got the appeal over here like it did have 30 years ago, that's for sure."