Guernsey fishermen call for improved port facilities

Mr Lane said better facilities were needed for landing fish at low water

Poor facilities at Guernsey's St Peter Port harbour are putting fishermen's safety at risk, according to their representative body.

Dougal Lane, president of the Guernsey Fisherman's Association, said safety ladders were urgently needed on the pontoons at the Fish Quay.

"Ten years I think we've been asking for [them]," he said. "They have them in the marina but we don't have them."

Harbourmaster Capt Peter Gill said the fishermen would need to find the money.

Mr Lane said the facilities available to local fishermen were poor by comparison to other fishing communities.

"If you go round to any other working fishing port in Europe, the fishermen have a lot more facilities than we have here," he said.

Mr Lane said low-water landing facilities, a crane and a fuel supply on the quay were all badly needed.

Capt Gill said the consultation process on the island's ports masterplan would enable all views to be taken into account.

In the meantime, he said, a crane could be installed on the Fish Quay but it would need to be paid for by the fishermen themselves.

"If that's what they want for their business, then they ought to be providing it," he said. "There has to be a business case produced and if they want it, they can pay for it."