Les Ecréhous and Les Minquiers: Prohibition of the landing of domestic animals (P.94/2020) - amendment [P.94/2020Amd]

STATES OF JERSEY

LES ECRÉHOUS AND LES MINQUIERS: PROHIBITION OF THE LANDING OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS (P.94/2020): AMENDMENT

Lodged au Greffe on 21st August 2020 by the Connétable of Grouville

STATES GREFFE

2020  P.94/Amd.

LES ECRÉHOUS AND LES MINQUIERS: PROHIBITION OF THE LANDING OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS (P.94/2020): AMENDMENT

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Designate the existing paragraph as paragraph (a); after the words "to bring forward" insert the word "primary"; and for the words "to prohibit the landing of dogs or other domestic animals at any time on Les Ecréhous and Les Minquiers" substitute the words "to provide –

1. a  framework  for  the  restriction  of  certain  activities  on Les Ecréhous and Les Minquiers to include, but not be limited to, prohibiting the landing of dogs and other domestic animals, as well as anything else which the Minister for the Environment considers might cause disturbance to wildlife; and
2. the Minister for the Environment with the power to implement specific restrictions by Order."

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After the newly-designated paragraph (a), insert the following new paragraph –

"(b) to request the Minister for the Environment to make an Order without delay

(once the primary legislation is in force) to prohibit the landing of dogs and other domestic animals on Les Ecréhous at any time."

CONNÉTABLE OF GROUVILLE

Note:  After this amendment, the proposition would read as follows –

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion

1. to request the Minister for the Environment to bring forward primary legislation to provide –

1. a  framework  for  the  restriction  of  certain  activities  onLes Ecréhous and Les Minquiers to include, but not be limited to,prohibiting the landing of dogs and other domestic animals, as well as anything else which the Minister for the Environment considers might cause disturbance to wildlife; and
2. the Minister for the Environment with the power to implementspecific restrictions by Order.

2. to request the Minister for the Environment to make an Order without delay (once the primary legislation is in force) to prohibit the landingof dogs and other domestic animals on Les Ecréhous at any time.

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P.94/2020 Amd.

REPORT

I commend the Constable of St. Martin for bringing forward her proposition to outlaw the landing of domestic animals on Les Ecréhous. Les Ecréhous reef is part of the Parish of  St.  Martin  and  the  Constable  has  responded  to  calls  from  environmentalists, residents' and visitors who were asking for such a proposition. I was notified about the proposition as, understandably, Les Minquiers reef (which is in the Parish of Grouville ) was included in the proposition.

I have since consulted with the Chairman of Les Minquiers Residents Association and, in his opinion, there is no problem currently with dogs on the Les Minquiers. While I accept his opinion, I am aware that the situation might change in the future.

The Constable's proposition, if adopted, would introduce primary legislation and, as written, would immediately outlaw the landing of domestic animals on both reefs when, in my view, this action is only currently needed for Les Ecréhous. My amendment asks that the primary legislation gives the Minister for the Environment ("the Minister") the power to restrict the landing of animals by Order and requests that the Minister brings in such an Order without delay (once the primary legislation is in force) for Les Ecréhous alone. The status quo would then remain for Les Minquiers until such time as an Order for that reef might be needed. I have also asked that the new law gives the Minister powers to restrict other activities on both reefs that disturb wildlife should it become necessary.

I must stress that from my knowledge of the current rib tour companies they do act responsibly but who knows who might be providing a service to take people to the reefs in the future. It might be a less responsible company.

For  those  who  have  not  visited  the  reefs  they  are  both  extremely  important environmental habitats, but they are quite different. Les Ecréhous has 5 plateaus with huts on them ranging from 1 to 22. When the tide goes out there is a large expanse of sand and shingle that gets exposed and it can be easily understood how a dog off a lead could worry, scare and disturb wildlife. Les Minquiers is different in that all the huts are on one islet and there is not really an area around the huts where a dog could be left to run loose. There is, of course, a large sandbank on this reef but this is some way from the islet and you need a boat to get to it from the reef.

Financial and manpower implications

There are no financial and manpower implications which cannot be met from existing department budgets, although law-drafting time will be required.

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P.94/2020 Amd.