Cruising Association looks for evidence of entanglement
Fed up with the unpredictable hazards of poorly marked lobster pots and static fishing gear, the Cruising Association is pushing boaters to provide evidence to help drive change.
Together with the RYA, the association is calling on sailors to report entanglements and sightings of poorly marked static gear. The organisations formed a working group to tackle lobster pot hazards back in 2019 and now they’re looking for hard data.
If a small craft is disabled by a fouled propeller and rudder, it poses a serious risk to navigation, safety and potentially the lives of those on board, the association points out. Adding, other water users also run the risk of entanglement and for fishermen, these incidents could result in significant losses when gear is damaged through entanglement.
“Although the RYA has been collecting data on static fishing gear for over 20 years, we’ve not yet received sufficient evidence to provide a strong enough case to drive change,” says Mel Hide, RYA director of external affairs. “If you are concerned by this hazard or have previous experience with entanglements, we encourage you to get in touch.”
Boaters asked to report entanglements with fishing gear
That ‘getting in touch’ is via the RYA’s fishing gear reporting form which asks for location, date, time, weather conditions and type of fishing gear. It also allows for photo uploads. Boaters are urged to report entanglement incidents – whether they were directly involved, witnessed an incident or are reporting an incident that occurred earlier this year – and sightings of unmarked, poorly marked, or lost static fishing gear.
This data will be used to identify high-risk areas, and to inform further discussions.
Scotland took a significant step in 2020 by making it illegal to mark creels with anything other than a dedicated buoy. Elsewhere in the UK, voluntary guidance exists, but this has not been sufficient to resolve the issue. The RYA and CA, along with other stakeholders, continue to seek a long-term solution.
“Safety at sea is everyone’s responsibility,” says Robin Baron, president of the Cruising Association. “The CA remains committed to ensuring safer waters and protecting those who navigate them. All who use our waters must play their part. The CA urges boaters to complete the RYA Reporting Form, so we can build a central database of incidents.”
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