PAIR trawling within three nautical miles of Bailiwick shores could be banned.

Commerce and Employment’s Sea Fisheries section has launched a review of the regulations regarding pair trawling to ensure the sustainability of the inshore fishing fleet.

Currently, trawlers under 18 metres or with an engine power of less than 224 kilowatts or 300 horsepower are allowed to fish in waters around Guernsey and Sark.

No two boats are allowed to pair trawl if the combined engine power is more than 373 kilowatts or 500 horsepower.

One Bailiwick trawler, paired with another from Jersey, is currently operating outside the three-mile territorial limit.

Aside from sustainability, the department is also concerned about the economics of pair trawls because it says two full loads of fish can flood the market and reduce the price paid to other fishermen.

Sea Fisheries considered introducing a marine protected area as an alternative but thought it unsuitable.

*A consultation document has been launched to get fishermen’s views. It is available on the Sea Fisheries section of the Commerce and Employment website.