Jersey tuna fishers voice frustration after only one boat secures commercial licence

Jersey’s fishing community has reacted with disappointment after just one local vessel was awarded permission to catch and kill bluefin tuna under the UK’s commercial quota.

The licence marks the first opportunity for Jersey fishermen to apply for a share of the UK allocation, but only one of the six island applicants was successful in the government-run lottery process.

Officials from the Government of Jersey said they would like to see the island manage its own commercial tuna quota in future, arguing that a locally controlled system would better reflect the size and needs of Jersey’s fleet.

A UK government spokesperson said it understood the concerns raised by fishermen and was continuing discussions with the Government of Jersey about how the fishery could be managed in the future.

Gabby Mason, vice-chair of the Jersey Fishermen’s Association and co-owner of Jade-S Fisheries, described the result as “really disheartening”.

Her application progressed through the first stage but was not selected in the final draw.

She said the tuna fishery represented a rare opportunity to create a new industry and provide support for local boats following a challenging period for the sector.

“It really was the potential of a new pioneering industry for Jersey and something that could have helped our industry and helped more boats through what has been a very difficult time,” she said.

This year’s process also introduced a major change in how licences were allocated. Previously, applications were assessed on their individual merits, but the UK government used a lottery system for the first time.

The successful applicant, Shetty Chavan, said he was “very happy” to receive a licence, although he also hoped more Jersey fishermen would have been selected.

He said having a Jersey-managed quota would be a better approach in the future.

“What will be good is if Jersey gets some sort of small quota ourselves, and if the Jersey government makes the decision on how to hand it out,” he said.

Chavan also raised concerns about the financial uncertainty involved in preparing for the fishery.

He said he would need to invest in new equipment and that failing to secure a licence in future years could have a significant impact.

“If the fish doesn’t turn up, I’ll be spending a lot of money,” he added.

He said he would consider sharing his allocation with other boats to give more fishermen the opportunity to take part, although he was unsure whether the rules would allow this.

Calls for a Jersey-specific approach

Alex Plaster, from the Government of Jersey’s marine resources team, said securing one licence was a positive first step but accepted that some applicants would feel disappointed.

He said the island should ultimately have control over how tuna licences are awarded.

“The fishery for tuna is different from Jersey to Guernsey, let alone the fishery between Jersey and the UK, so we want to make it niche and make it right for the island,” he said.

Plaster said the current system had been designed around larger UK vessels and did not necessarily suit Jersey’s smaller fleet.

One factor was that a single licence allowed a boat to catch up to four tonnes of tuna.

He said some potential applicants had decided not to enter the process because the available quota was considered too large for a Jersey-based operation.

Peter Tarrant, director of Fishwise, said there was disappointment among some fishermen but believed the allocation was appropriate for the first year of a commercial tuna fishery in Jersey.

“One commercial licence and the four tonnes is probably the right amount for Jersey to start with,” he said.

However, he agreed that the longer-term goal should be for Jersey to receive its own quota, allowing licences to be distributed locally rather than giving one operator control of the entire allocation.'

For many in the fishing industry, the introduction of the tuna fishery represents an opportunity for growth, but they say a system designed specifically for Jersey will be needed if the sector is to expand.