Studies will be carried out on fish breeding grounds in Guernsey’s waters to try and stem the fall in catches landed by fishermen.
Deputy Adrian Gabriel, President of Environment & Infrastructure, said the local knowledge of fishermen and others would be tapped into to aid the investigations and propose solutions.
This was in response to concerns raised by some politicians in the States this week over issues being faced by the fishing sector.
Deputy George Oswald questioned if an in depth study of Sea Fisheries data would be carried out in response to the “significant fall in wet fish catches”.
Alderney Representative in the States Edward Hill said there has been a rise in tuna populations which was “seriously depleting normal fish stocks”.
Deputy Gabriel said a marine spatial plan would define what activities can take place within our territorial waters including no dredging and no fishing restrictions in any identified breeding areas.
A marine biosecurity plan is also being worked up which will protect local waters from boats which may carry non-native invasive species on their hulls.
Deputy Gabriel said work was being carried out by Economic Development to see if licences could be granted to permit the catching of tuna, although he said he would want to see this on a “catch and release” basis.
The States is waiting on approval from the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to extend an international treaty that would permit the fishing of tuna.