Evidence of illegal fishing discovered at reef

Evidence of illegal fishing discovered at reef

By James Jeune

Source: jersey evening post

9/25/2022

Credit: Nick Jouault

EVIDENCE of illegal ormer fishing at the Ecréhous is being investigated by Marine Resources.

Amateur marine biologist Nick Jouault, who frequently monitors the reef, discovered 29 discarded ormer shells – all within a small area at the top of a gully.

Mr Jouault said that 15 of the shells were below the minimum size of 9cm required under Jersey’s fishing regulations.

He added that the legal ormering season does not start until October.

‘It’s an area that I’d been surveying quite a bit recently, they [the shells] had obviously appeared in the last week or so,’ he said.

‘With the Covid restrictions, the stocks have replenished.’