Black Can Man strikes again

[Robin]

Saturday 8th May, Yarmouth Lifeboat launched to tow in a 43ft Gulfstar (nice looking boat) which picked up a pot line submerged in the tide outside the harbour, just off a channel buoy. Lives at risk, Lifeboat expenses incurred, crew's day interupted, a diver couldn't cut the line off so drying out or lift out required - all so some SCA can lay his pots where he likes without proper marking. This guy is a Solent and Solent approaches specialist, someone surely knows who he is but he does need to be caught and at the very least given some safety advice on properly marking his gear. Lives are at stake.

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[extravert]

TLA blindness

SCA?

<hr width=100% size=1>One day, I want to be a real sailor. In the mean time I'll just keep tri-ing.

 

[Robin]

Re: TLA blindness

'Special Case A&&&H**E', one who thinks commonsense, rules, etiquette and so on applies only to the rest of humanity and not to him (or her).

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[tugboat]

Re: TLA blindness

Personally, he/she seems more like a self centred a***wipe! These pot wallahs are a plague now. I know some of them have to earn a living but a lot of them are just doing it as a hobby. A few need catching and publicly taking through the courts.

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[SteveB_Sigma33]

Re: TLA blindness

What does the law state about liability for : -

(a) the damage done to a boats prop/rudder etc

(b) damage/ loss of the pot

Just wondering who the law protects?!?!

Considering the state of play in the country at this time I could take a guess!!!!!

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[Stemar]

Re: TLA blindness

It seems to me that, unfortunately, what is needed is legislation to outlaw wire lines and require pots to be properly marked with something that will be properly visible at all states of the tide. Perhaps also to label with owner's details.

I know it'll be unenforceable from the point of view of imposing fines and/or civil liability, but if non-compliant pots are gathered up and destroyed, the cost of the pots would make it pretty much self-enforcing.

You can't legislate for common sense, but if you make the lack of it sufficiently expensive, most people will soon acquire a modicum!

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[Stemar]

Re: TLA blindness

It seems to me that, unfortunately, what is needed is legislation to outlaw wire lines and require pots to be properly marked with something that will be properly visible at all states of the tide. Perhaps also to label with owner's details.

I know it'll be unenforceable from the point of view of imposing fines and/or civil liability, but if non-compliant pots are gathered up and destroyed, the cost of the pots would make it pretty much self-enforcing.

You can't legislate for common sense, but if you make the lack of it sufficiently expensive, most people will soon acquire a modicum!

As far as the law is concerned, if I deliberately sink a badly marked pot or damage it, it'll be theft or criminal damage, but IF - big if - you could prove that the person who placed the pot was negligent or reckless in his/her actions, AND IF - even bigger if - you could identify the culprit, you'd probably have a case, which would cost you thousands in legal fees to find that the miscreant has no assets, so you can't collect.

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[TheBoatman]

Re: TLA blindness

Speaking as ans EX potter/commercial fisherman,,,,,, cut the gear away and let it ALL sink to the bottom. That hits where it hurts, until you guys understand that catching an unsuspecting yottie is all fair in love and war, loosing gear is something else, it becomes expensive and (I) may decide not to lay my gear there next time?

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[Talbot]

Re: TLA blindness

The trouble with cutting it away and letting it sink, is that this does not disable to pot, so it will remain as a trap for some considerable time.

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[steve_cronin]

What it needs....

is that a standard seamark "Fishing pot below" be adopted. The french seem to pretty well universally use a long black stick with a black flag as a pot marker and these are easily seen. OK it doesn't stop the rogues but it does make their gear easily spottable to (and here's a better idea than chasing skippers who might have had a glass of wine too many) the new fleet of MCA boats that our tax £s have recently paid for.

Steve Cronin



<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion

 

[jimi]

Re: What it needs....

I think the MCA & RNLI boats should be entitled to lift any pots which are not properly marked. I.E 5 foot pole with black flag.

<hr width=100% size=1>I Have The Body Of A God... Buddha

 

[duncan]

Re: TLA blindness

as you know they won't loose them - they will simple drag them to recover in most instances if it's a set.

however I agree that the cowboy - one pot here one there - will move on if this happens and they tend to be the main hazard in such places

<hr width=100% size=1>madesco madidum ..../forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[Robin]

Re: TLA blindness

I think this one is the cowbuoy of all cowbuoys! I once tried to count how many unmarked black 5lt cans (blue also seen, same cowbuoy I wonder?) there were between Poole and Lymington or Yarmouth, they are laid in channels (N Channel and Needles Channel), by channel buoys like N Head, Sconce and this one by Yarmouth entrance. He is so prolific that someone MUST know the culprit. I hope he gets caught on his own crap one day....

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[DavidP]

Re: TLA blindness

Hi

As said above cutting the markers away may lead to a self perpetuating death trap ,but i would imagine thay have their Pots on a GPS,
So having to drag and snag their lines may become a bit tedious
time after time and get the hint to move ,or mark the Pots properly.
Lets face it ,1 gallon black plastic containers are cheap to lose as opossed to £15 /25 orange Dan Bouys

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[duncan]

Re: TLA blindness

more likely cuttle traps right now I suspect

the harbour masters must have the responsibility for their fairways surely?

<hr width=100% size=1>madesco madidum ..../forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[TheBoatman]

Re: TLA blindness

You could always concider putting out a securite on Ch 16 warning other boats that there are badly marked pots in the vacinity of' and beware etc, then HMCG may pick up on it?

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[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

Re: TLA blindness

The problem with that is that once you put out a securite you are then deemed responsible for the safety of passage of other vessels, by either properly marking the pots or standing on to warn other approaching vessels.

This is why most people will call the coast guard and request they announce a securite on your behalf.

Strange maritime law!

<hr width=100% size=1>J

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk>

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[Robin]

Re: TLA blindness

I don't think HMCG are remotely interested in picking up this as a cause and maybe it is really a fisheries ministry thing (whoever that is now). There are apparently rules in existence but nobody to police them.

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[duncan]

Re: TLA blindness

I believe they are guidelines rather than laws - which accounts for why they are ignored unfortunately....

<hr width=100% size=1>madesco madidum ..../forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[Twister_Ken]

The link to <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.bembridge.com/article.asp?ID1=1&ID2=111&ID3=650> bembridge.com</A> posted elsewhere includes tales of derring-do by the Bembridge lifeboat: included therein, the collection of a 10m yacht 'anchored' of St Caths by lobster pots. One of these damn things (pots, not lifeboats) is going to kill somone one day and I hope the authorities pursue the bugger that laid it for manslaughter.

Bye the bye, tooling into Chbg last weekend, it was a pleasure to see nice big florescent pot bobbers. If Monsieur Grenouille can do it, why can't our pirates?

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>