Jersey marine protection plan gets States backing

Politicians have voted unanimously for a marine plan from Jersey’s government but have rejected another proposal to increase the amount of protected areas in it.

Environment Minister Deputy Steve Luce presented the States Assembly with a Marine Spatial Plan in which 23% of Jersey’s waters would be marine protected areas.

The Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel had wanted to extend those areas by another 4% to protect more habitats around Jersey’s offshore reefs.

States members voted against the panel’s proposals due to fears it would put some fishers out of business.

Marine protected areas prohibit mobile gear fishing, which includes trawling and dredging, to stop damage to marine habitats and species.

Luce said if politicians voted to increase marine protected areas “it would be a disaster for many fishers in Jersey”.

He said that, while protecting the environment was a “noble goal” which he agreed with, it was also important to protect the fishing industry.

The Environment Scrutiny Panel presented five areas members thought needed to be included as marine protected areas.

States members voted on each area separately but voted against making any of them marine protected areas.

Deputy Hilary Jeune, the chairwoman of the panel which called for more restrictions on dredging, said: “Dredging is likened to cutting down an ancient woodland or virgin forest. Once habitats are damaged, it’s gone and takes many generations to flourish again.

“The amount of damage dredging creates is out of proportion.”

Ms Jeune argued that dredging would damage maerl beds, made up of a rare type of pink calcified seaweed, which provide shelter for marine species.

She said protecting maerl beds would allow a “sustainable future for the fishing industry”.

However, other politicians felt the environment minister had got the balance right between protecting marine habitats and looking after the long-term interests of the fishing industry.

Deputy Sam Mezec, the leader of Reform Jersey, said: “I think the anger we would stoke by negatively effecting the fishing industry will be hard to get over, which is why I think the ministers position is right.”

His sentiments were echoed by Sustainable Economic Development Minister Deputy Kirsten Morel, who said: “It is impossible to imagine Jersey without a marine economy.”