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  1. ITV Report

Environmentalists gather in Jersey to discuss Asian Hornet

Credit: ITV Channel TV

Environmentalists from across the British Isles are in Jersey today to share ideas on how to detect and control Asian Hornets.

The British-Irish Council are holding a two-day technical workshop involving environment representatives from the Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Ireland, the UK and France, as well as scientists and experts from Jersey.

They will discuss Jersey's approach in which the States and island volunteers work together to locate and destroy nests, in addition to the island's wider Invasive Species Strategy.

Talks are underway to establish what funding is necessary for these measures to stay in place.

Asian Hornets were first seen in the Channel Islands in 2016.

Their spread began in France when they were accidentally introduced in 2004.

We are holding this meeting because, as the most southerly jurisdiction, we are the first to be significantly affected by Asian hornets as they move northwards with the changing climate.

I know that the officers from the other jurisdictions already regard Jersey's operation as best practice and will want to know how they can adopt our methodologies, although I'm sure that we can learn from them too.

– Willie Peggie, Director of Natural Environment for Growth, Housing and Environment Department