Guernsey fishers call for compensation after pollack quota set to zero

Dougal Lane said the zero catch quota on pollack had left him effectively out of work

The States of Guernsey has said it is open to talks with pollack fishers who were left financially worse off by a reduced catch quota.

The catch quota was set to zero in January following stock concerns.

However, fishers are still allowed to catch up to 100kg (220lb) of the species if it is bycatch only.

Deputy Neil Inder, Economic Development President, said officials would be open to hearing how UK quotas had affected commercial fishing.

He said the States did not set quotas but officials would welcome talks with the fishing industry on the issue.

"We would be open to hearing from the industry in respect of how UK quotas are affecting commercial fishing," he said.

'Out of work'

The UK government announced a compensation scheme to support some pollack fishers in the south-west of England.

The change in rules means fishers cannot target pollack in 2024.

Dougal Lane, vice-president of the Guernsey Fishing Association, said the reduction had left him effectively "out of work" and it would be "very nice" for fishers to be compensated.

Referring to the bycatch allowance, he said: "Even if you go and catch it in a day, it's hardly enough to pay for fuel."

Jonny Hughes, a senior UK marine policy manager for the Blue Marine Foundation, said pollack stocks had declined by about 90% in the past two decades due to overfishing.

"We've crashed the stock and if fishing continues at the same level, it will never recover," he said.