Ormering: Your guide to the 2024 season

Tuesday 09 January 2024

Ormering season is about to begin.

The first tide is on Thursday 11 January.

Pictured: The 2024 Ormering tides.

Strict rules cover when they can be collected, how and the size they need to be.

Gatherers will head to hotspots which include L’Eree and Rocquaine to turn rocks on the low water, which is at 12.40pm at a height of 1.76m on 11 January.

You can only collect ormers on the days of the full moon, new moon and two days following from 1 January to 30 April.

You cannot collect them between sunset and sunrise and they need to be at least 80mm, measured along the longest axis of the shell.

The best tides of the year are predicted to be on Monday 11 March at 0.13m (1.40pm) and Tuesday 12 March at 0.08m (2.20pm).

How far the sea ultimately goes out is dependent on weather conditions, with an offshore wind and higher air pressure preferred.

You are not meant to dive for ormers, or use things like a snorkel and goggles.

Sea Fisheries will be carrying out routine patrols to check for compliance.

It also promotes a code of conduct to help preserve the stocks.

Any undersized ormers should be returned to their original positions.

Boulders and rocks should also be turned back to how you found them to help prevent the habitat degrading.

Gatherers are also asked to watch out for marine and bird life.

There are important sites for overwintering birds on Guernsey’s coast, particularly at Lihou.

Birds waste valuable energy if they are forced to fly.

Debate rages about how best to prepare an ormer for eating, with casseroling and frying the preferred options. Tenderising them is key.