mainsail1
Well-Known Member
Sounds the sort of selfish Prat we are up against.
Petition to stop lobster traps trapping us
- Thread starter Twister_Ken
- Start date
Scillypete
Well-Known Member
I sail and I fish with a few pots. In 30+ years of sailing I've only snagged once at night in an area I knew would have gear laid out, we didn't see the dan with flag in the dark until too late, we soon freed ourselves and continued on none the worse for the experience. In the statistics from CG&RNLI about vessels towed with snagged rudders and props is it all from laid our fishing gear or is (probably) a larger proportion of those rescues down to discarded ropes/nets/lines. If you know that a certain area is heavily fished and there will be numerous pot buoys don't go through it, you wouldn't sail through a wind farm would you.
I won't be signing.
Hope everyone enjoys their lobster dinners and crab sandwiches this summer . . . . fair winds
I won't be signing.
Hope everyone enjoys their lobster dinners and crab sandwiches this summer . . . . fair winds
jimi
Well-Known Member
in that case, I hope you support the reverse view. ie fairways and clear water should not be potted and anyone that does so should be prosecuted. especially if they do so with a scarcely visible buoy!
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
With due respect that is not exactly always possible. The wash, for instance, can be littered with thousands of pots. Agreed the majority in this area are well marked but off Blakeney they are not & I caught 2 in one night( which forunately slipped off)The area between the Farnes & land was littered with badly marked pots when I went through. There were pots in stupid places such as slap in the middle of the channel into Eyemouth harbour entrance. I left in very rough conditions & if I had hooked one I would have been on the rocks in seconds. It was so dangerous that the harbour master stood watch to call emergency services if needed.
I have seen a pot several times, partially submerged, just off the west entrance to Dover harbour. Just what you need when on deck trying to drop sails. It is not unusual to see badly marked pots around harbours.
In the last 20 years I have snagged 8 pots & fortunately my rope cutter has cut the lot. But this seems a total waste & one has to remember that the pots go on fishing for ages after
Oh !!! & i do not eat crabs & lobsters
prv
Well-Known Member
Giblets
Well-Known Member
There is absolutely no chance whatsoever of anything being done about this problem. After all if the land police have totally lost control of the prevention of petty crime then what hope for marine enforcement even when existing regulations are in place but not acted on.
Greenheart
Well-Known Member
Presumably every inadequately-visible lobster-pot marker is just so much floating garbage, which any yachtsman has the right to prevent from obstructing his vessel, and remove from the sea?
If government can require lobster-potters not to use ineffectual markers, and if (with the law on their side), yachtsmen need feel no qualm about slashing away at ill-maintained 'marks' (floating garbage) that impede their way, isn't there a better chance of potters adopting decent kit, and the problem diminishing? I've signed. :encouragement:
If government can require lobster-potters not to use ineffectual markers, and if (with the law on their side), yachtsmen need feel no qualm about slashing away at ill-maintained 'marks' (floating garbage) that impede their way, isn't there a better chance of potters adopting decent kit, and the problem diminishing? I've signed. :encouragement:
chrishscorp
Well-Known Member
I have seen badly marked pots yards from the main entrance channel to a harbour and not where you would to get caught. Im all for you chaps being able to earn a living but the harbour rules are there for a reason.
chrishscorp
Well-Known Member
The rules are there it sounds like the law needs tweaking to allow it to be enforced properly. I would consider any yachtsman passing an obstruction/danger to be able to remove said detritus
That way the couldn't careless members of the fishing community would soon find they are out of gear
Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
Done that. The turbines are very visible and set in a sensible pattern
Scillypete
Well-Known Member
Define 'clear water', what may appear to be an open deep water area, the English Channel for instance, is full of deep water wrecks and reefs which are places where nets and pots will be laid other areas may appear to have no significant bottom features but other pot type fishing may occur for whelks etc. Some places like headlands can experience exceptional tidal currents which will drag a Dan or small float (old plastic containers are really not suitable for fishing) down, if it isn't completely submerged it won't be difficult to work out which side to pass is safe.
I've no idea why anyone would want to fish a fairway/harbour entrance that is free of underwater features. what might be an idea is for people to cadge a ride with local fishermen and find out first hand what they're up to in your area and also what they are up against and if you manage to go out with one using little plastic bottles for floats ask them why
Paddy Layback
N/A
No, but raising awareness is a bit of a start, better than apathy, so I've signed it.
lisilou
Well-Known Member
Signed and shared. Pain in the arse.
L
L
jimi
Well-Known Member
Hmmm, if i'm entering a strange harbour I rather doubt i'll have done the in depth research of a prior visit with a pot dropping local fisherman. The logical answer would be for the local fishermen to either avoid potting fairways and also ensure their gear is clearly visible. The latter is what the petition is requesting.
Bubblegtt
Well-Known Member
Signed ...... number 931
A little way to go yet, so come on peeps.
A little way to go yet, so come on peeps.
Greenheart
Well-Known Member
And maybe we can extend it, to PWCs? :encouragement:
Really? It was only 670-something when I signed a few hours ago. I call that pretty good progress.
wizard
Well-Known Member
Just gone over the 1000 now...
Thistle
Well-Known Member
I agree that they are a pest and a potential danger but I wonder if a petition to Westminster (or Holyrood etc) is the way to go? How many of us have reported an illegally placed pot buoy to the local harbour authority - it to the folk who should be enforcing the rules? Without complaints they can probably justifiably say that as far as they know there's no problem on their patch. Now that most of us have VHF and accurate GPS it would be easy to report any pots we find and request action. At least it would highlight the scale of the perceived problem and might result in some action in some places.
Scillypete
Well-Known Member
And therein lies a conundrum to have gear buoyant enough to stay clearly visible in a strong tidal current also makes it likely that the gear will walk or drag and end up elsewhere which is not good for anyone or the line has to be long enough to compensate for the amount of expected tidal current conditions meaning at lower states of tide there will be a surplus but leaded risers should be used to keep the excess down. As has been said if it's within a harbour authorities area then report them if that authority has a ban in place and keep doing so until they take some action.
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
Well-Known Member
Singed with great pleasure.
Southampton, Solent and Isle of Wight are terrible areas and potentially dangerous at night in certain conditions. Submerged milk-bottles and similar should not be acceptable.
Southampton, Solent and Isle of Wight are terrible areas and potentially dangerous at night in certain conditions. Submerged milk-bottles and similar should not be acceptable.
