LARGE catches of bass off Guernsey may not mean that their numbers have increased. Pair trawling combined with large shoaling have meant good fishing for locals this year, both close in and further offshore.

But there are no figures to back up any growing abundance.

‘We’ve had a couple of unusually large catches due to the fishing methodology rather than any increase,’ said Sea Fisheries technical officer David Wilkinson.

Bass move in to the English Channel during spring just before the first algal blooms in April, he said.

‘They are shoaling in large numbers and that’s the reason why fishermen have taken large hauls, particularly with pair trawling.’

Bass are coming close to shore in one particular spot allowing smaller boats to cash in.

‘It all gives the impression the season is better than expected.’

Pair trawling, whereby a net is positioned between two boats, giving a larger horizontal spread than traditional methods, is a controversial fishing system.

It is designed to catch shoaling species, but has been linked by campaigners with dolphin deaths.

‘The writing is on the wall because the evidence is so strong and dolphins are a sea creature that is so emotive.’

The method is used by one local team and several French and Scottish fishermen.

Mr Wilkinson said the technique could be used at different depths for different species.

‘Big by-catch problems are linked to one practice at a particular time; we know it’s at night and certain times of the year. It would be wrong to ban it without proper research, but unfortunately it will be some time.’

Not all dolphin strandings were related to pair fishing, he added.

There are no official quotas for bass. Limits in Cherbourg are to stabilise the market.

‘There is an impression of overall abundance of bass in our waters. Fifty years back, the quantity of bass taken by the fleet here was very low,’ said Mr Wilkinson.

A very good year in 1989 for young bass may be leading to large catches now as these fish make up the adult stock. Management of nursery areas off the south of England has also benefited the species.

‘The large influx of bass into fishing is what we are reaping now.’

Climate change could also be affecting this warm-water species as, like the spider crab, its range has moved north.

‘Bass is now in the North Sea where 10 years ago it never existed.’

Guernsey Fishermen’s Association president Dougal Lane said increases in sea temperature were responsible.

‘This year has been incredible,’ he said.

‘I started charter fishing in 1980 and with a party of 12, you’d get one bass per person a day. Now you’re getting 100.’

But it is not just bass, with good catches of bream and horse mackerel also being reported.

He said pair trawling was efficient because it could be targeted at a particular species. Proper research was needed into the technique.

‘Pair trawling, with the dolphins aside, is very environmentally friendly because the gear is off the bottom.’

No dolphins had been caught locally by pair trawling.

‘We use very small boats and a small trawl. It’s perhaps the scale of the larger boats that have the effect.’