Nello Ciotti, owner of Da Nello Restaurant, with one of its seafood dishes. Despite our waters being cloudy, fish is currently readily available in the island. a possible knock-on effect of the current French strike action. (0594450)

MURKY seawater has affected local fishing.

Local fisherman Maurice Down, 76, who has been fishing in Guernsey waters since he was 14, said he was not surprised fish were not biting because the water was cloudier than he has ever seen it.

‘It’s a dirty yellow colour and it has been a serious problem to fishermen,’ he said. ‘The fish can’t see properly to feed and also the red sand eels which they feed on aren’t coming onto the banks, so the fish stay well out to sea.’

Mr Down said he did not know the reason why the water was murky but had heard many theories. ‘Some say it’s the rough weather we had in the winter but I don’t think so because when the weather stirs up the silt, it settles again fairly quickly. This stuff just hangs in the water,’ he said.

‘I suspect that the cloudy water is down to a kind of warm water plankton that would usually be killed off by the cold water here but has been able to survive because sea temperatures are higher than ever.’