Bass ban lifted for recreational fishers

Credit: PA Images

A ban on amateur fishermen catching European sea bass has been lifted in Jersey.

The Environment Minister Deputy John Young has overturned the decision, allowing anglers to catch one per day.

The ban was introduced in April last year when the numbers of sea bass were low.

New research now shows that a fewer fish died from recreational fishing than originally thought and that the survival rate from 'catch and release' practice is higher than expected.

Deputy Young has asked anglers to follow a code of practice which includes:

  • Only keeping fish between 45-65cm long

  • Recording number of bass caught

  • Returning bass to water as quickly as possible