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GUERNSEY has signed a fisheries management agreement (FMA) with the UK Government which means that the Channel island Bailiwick now has control of fishing 12 miles (19km) off its shoreline.
The agreement will enable the restoration of sea fish licensing controls within the waters between three and 12 nautical miles from Guernsey, therefore putting the Bailiwick on a level playing field with the United Kingdom and the other Crown Dependencies.
Discussions leading to the completion of this agreement have been progressed over the last two years by the members of the inter-island Bailiwick Fisheries Management Commission with full political support in the three Islands, as well as close collaboration with Bailiwick fishermen.
The next stage for the Bailiwick Fisheries Management Commission is to work with the Law Officers’ Chambers to finalise the drafting of the licensing legislation and submit the draft legislation with a States Report for approval, to the States of Alderney, the Sark Chief Pleas and the States of Guernsey. These steps will take place in early spring 2012.
If approved by all three Islands, the legislation in the form of a “Project de Loi” will be sent for “Royal Assent”.
Dougal Lane President of the Guernsey Fishermen's Association (GFA) said: "The signing of the FMA is a significant milestone in restoring licensing controls within Bailiwick waters. The GFA Members were fully supportive of the FMA and were delighted that the Bailiwick Fisheries Management Commission had achieved this significant step towards restoring licensing controls within the 12 nautical mile limit.
I never expected to see a signed FMA, as this document requires seven Governments to agree. I am very pleased with the result and I would like to thank the Bailiwick Fisheries Management Commission for all their hard work in achieving this”.
Ray Gaudion (an Alderney fishermen for over 40 years and The President of the Alderney Licensed Fishing Vessel Owners Organisation) agreed with the comments made by Dougal Lane and, on behalf of the Alderney Fishermen, said that his members fully supported the deal and that The Bailiwick Fisheries Management Commission should be congratulated for achieving "this excellent result” .
Steve Taylor (a fishermen from Sark and member of the Sark Sea Fisheries Committee who fishes on a fishing vessel based in Creux Harbour), also agreed with both of these views.
Fishermen from the neighbouring island of Jersey have expressed concerns that they could be excluded, but talks on this aspect are expected to take place.
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