Guernsey fishermen 'urged to band together'

Deputy Kevin Stewart said fishermen needed to present a "united front" in negotiations with the UK

Guernsey fishermen have been urged to band together to oppose a ban on fishing in EU waters.

The UK government has suspended a fishing agreement because of a lack of quota controls in Bailiwick waters.

Commerce and Employment Minister Kevin Stewart urged the formation of a new Guernsey Fishermen's Association at a meeting of the industry on Thursday.

He said fishermen and the island must present a "united front" to the UK as work to overturn the bad continues.

Deputy Stewart said his department would support the association with "secretarial back up and legal advice".

The UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) brought the ban in due to concerns the Guernsey part of the ray and skate quota made up about 75% of the English non-sector quota.

Andy Le Prevost, from Seafresh said seafood stocks are "as healthy as ever"

It is concerned the unregulated amounts landed by the Guernsey industry put more pressure on UK fishermen and risked the UK exceeding its quota, leading to penalties from the EU Commission.

Deputy Stewart said: "Why they [the Guernsey figures] were ever even reported as part of the UK quota is beyond me... these are non-EU waters."

He said "the majority" of the 147 Bailiwick-registered vessels were not struggling at the moment, but his department was working with those individuals who had been affected and urged anyone who had not yet come forward to do so.

Andy Le Prevost, owner of fishmongers Seafresh and a part-time fisherman, said "stocks of seafood are as healthy as ever" and only a few boats that fish outside the Bailiwick's 12 nautical-mile limit were affected.

He said the industry "as a whole was positive" and representation for the whole industry by a single body would help communication and negotiations.