DEBATE has heated up about a proposal to ban pair trawling inside the Bailiwick’s three-mile territorial limit.

Opinion in the fishing industry appears to be divided as to why Sea Fisheries has developed the proposal.

It launched a consultation on Tuesday to ask fishermen for their views on a ban, which focuses on the sustainability of local fish stocks.

But former Guernsey Professional Fishermen’s Association president and pair trawler Dougal Lane (pictured) said the proposal was more about preserving fishermen’s livelihoods.

‘The argument is over whose fish box the fish go into rather than preserving the fish,’ said Mr Lane.

The full-time fisherman said mid-water pair trawling was between five and seven-times more efficient than a single boat, and used less fuel per tonne landed.

‘What the trawlers can take in one night, it would take the line fleet the rest of the week.

‘The little boats are struggling in the financial climate with the price of fish and high price of fuel. Perhaps they do need protecting,’ he said.

‘But in a year or two things in fishing can change quickly and once something is banned, it is extremely difficult to reverse at a later date.

‘Whether or not it should be banned is open to debate,’ he said.