Trans-boundary management collaboration
This move is one in a longstanding collaboration between Norman fishermen and their Jersey counterparts. The trans-boundary management collaboration has been in place for years and is based on a number of international agreements and treaties such as the Granville Bay Treaty, which dates back from 1839 – the very first international fishing treaty ever signed.
The cross-border management framework defines a number of regulations such as a minimum catch size of 87mm and a fixed number of licences and pots by vessel. Scientific surveys of the stock are carried out by l’Institut Français de Recherche pour l’Exploitation de la Mer (Ifremer) in France and the Fisheries and Marine Resources Environment and Planning Department in Jersey.
European Lobster
The European Lobster (Homarus gammarus) is caught using pots by a fleet of over one hundred boats whose length ranges from eight to twelve meters and have crews of one to three men. Landings are reported to be around 280 tonnes annually in the designated fishing area that stretches from West and North Cotentin, Granville Bay to Jersey territorial waters.
Statements
Daniel Lefèvre, President of the CRPM BN said: “We are seeking certification in order to earn recognition for the progress made throughout the past 25 years by the CRPM BN to ensure the sustainability of regional resources. For the Lobster fishery it is also an opportunity to strengthen our ties with the Jersey Fishermen’s Association. We are in regular contact to put in place consistent management measures in our shared fishing areas. In addition, we are already working in collaboration with the Association Normandie Fraîcheur Mer to support other regional fisheries considering certification. We are hopeful that two further fisheries from Lower Normandy will join the MSC programme within the next two years.”
Don Thompson, Chairman of Jersey Fishermen’s Association commented: “The MSC has been on our radar for a few years. Over the past decades, a lot has already been achieved through cross-border collaboration. We are justifiably proud of the way we manage jointly our fishery and the MSC is a great way to demonstrate our sustainable fishing practices and earn international recognition.” Don Thomson also added: “Jersey is an export-centered island and we are hoping to grow in the home market. With more and more fishermen moving onto shellfish, we want to re-establish ourselves internationally in this over-supplied market.”
Edouard Le Bart, Commercial Manager for the MSC in France, “I am delighted that fishermen from Lower Normandy and Jersey have decided to move into full assessment. Lobster is a leading seafood product of Western Cotentin, and its high quality is renowned and much appreciated by customers and chefs alike. I hope this assessment will allow them to demonstrate the sustainability of their fishery.”
Nicolas Guichoux, MSC Regional Director – Europe, “The Lobster fishery from Cotentin and Jersey is a great example of how cross-border managed fisheries can successfully manage fishing resources. It is therefore encouraging to see that MSC assessment can also be a way for fishermen to enhance this kind of partnerships and in some instances can help them engage beyond national borders. This fishery is all the more symbolic for being the first ever fishing treaty signed by two nations. I wish them all the best for this assessment.”
The European lobster is a prestigious product sold live primarily in France, Spain and Italy.
The MSC standard allows fisheries to prove their sustainability through a third party assessment process. Fisheries voluntarily seek certification: the MSC is committed to fair and equal access for all fisheries regardless of their size, type and their location. Assessment against the MSC standard is a transparent process that is open to people and organisations with an interest in the fishery.
