Pot markers off the Naze

Cantata

Cantata

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 Aug 2003
Messages
4,943
Location
Swale/Medway
Visit site
I keep meaning to say something about this. A recent post on one of the other forums has reminded me.
Having gone past Walton many times I now know that there are a lot of poorly-marked pots along there, from the pier area and along round the Naze. The MCA does now give 'advice' that pots should be properly marked although I'm not sure how much authority they have to enforce their advice.
Ironically, some of these pot-markers are directly off the Thames CG building at Walton.
Not sure that there's much I can do from over here, somewhat south. I wonder if any forumite based over that way might feel strongly enough to raise the issue locally?
 
Last edited:
Hmmm!

Have you considered getting involved with a local yachting association.............I'll get me coat
 
Would love to get involved with this as it is something I feel strongly about, Especially round the Naze and often the approaches to Harwich along the yacht track. Never been snagged yet but had several close calls and who knows how many at night.
Every time I take the boat "down west" I feel like I am running the gauntlet at hotspots like the Naze, The Downs/Goodwin Fork, Eastbourne, Looe Channel etc. etc.
I think the answer is education and possibly even grant aid (hey, if all sorts of minorities can get grants for "arts" why can't fishermen get one for safety?) so that professional fishermen can upgrade their gear to something more visible. combine this with automatic confiscation for unmarked or poorly marked gear within say port authority juristiction and this might get the message across.
There have been schemes in the Solent that have resulted in better marking of pots by professional fishermen but the cowboys still seem to get away with it. The Looe Channel is still a nightmare.
If you are offering some pointers as to a way forward feel free to pm me.


Pete
 
All the professional boats go out to sea with proper markers ready to deploy. I understand that the cowboys make their floats as hard to sea as possible because they don't want them taken by competitors. I also feel that only firm regulation supported by action will have any effect, and these people must know that their gear will definitely be removed if not properly marked (by a dan-buoy of adequate size).

The tide off the Naze runs at nearly 3 knots in places and all the floats there (I refuse to call them markers) are underwater for some of the time at springs.
 
Can't believe people are still potting in the Looe channel. I took that route 4 years to shorten a nasty single handed winter passage. It feels about 50m wide and to see pots in that little gap was scary - I assumed it was a one off. :mad::mad::mad:
 
pasta_simon said:
Can't believe people are still potting in the Looe channel. I took that route 4 years to shorten a nasty single handed winter passage. It feels about 50m wide and to see pots in that little gap was scary - I assumed it was a one off. :mad::mad::mad:
Click to expand...

It wasn't a one-off. There usually seem to be pots there, speaking as an occasional visitor to southern shores.
 
Things don't change much then, I had 9 years in the 'establishment', and there were very few who listened to the 'the lowest of the low' then. Although, to be fair, I'm currently employed in my usual position at the bottom of the pile in the private sector, and there are still people who have to do everything by decree rather than use their ears a bit. Sorry.. fred drift.

Hopefully Mr Wherry is going to have litttle go for you;)
 
Last edited:
I am happy to make a complaint too - I've had many a narrow miss making for Walton or Harwich. I think that the CG must know they are there but it is only through complaints that they might do something. It's hard to see how they might warn privateers as they won't know who they are.

Worth trying.
 
What about a mass pot-removal day by a local sailing club. To be repeated as often as necessary, and if anyone wants to sue them, return the pots and name them.
 
Yes indeed, I am now sorting out my winter project which will involve writing to all interested parties, with suggestions for education, funding/grants for better gear, and a policing scheme.
You can help by sending me reports including if possible;

lat long and position description of poorly marked gear
photo or description of poorly placed marked gear
details of any snagging events or near misses

pm me for an email address to send photos.

I intend to start with the HHA area first and work my way south and west with this campaign.

Stakeholders may include

Harwich Haven Authority
RNLI
RYA
MAFF/DEFRA

Anyone have any contact details for local fishery associations etc.

Remember, this is not about bashing the local fisherman but stamping out cowboys and arriving at a mutually agreeable solution.

Lets take the emotion out of the situation and work the problem.

:)
 
Last edited:
Plastic bottles

WE picked a couple up last year just of the pier at Walton .. I did see them and it was to late to do much about it so headed between the two .. Big mistake .. We heard them banging about under the boat and I waited for them to come out the back .. Nothing .. So we continued and just off the Naze Tower we saw two plastic milk bottles bob to the surface .. Must have dragged the pot a good 1/2 mile .. Hope he found it .. :D .. Second one was off Ramsgate .. We had just been hit by a F6 squal ( Lucky the sails were down ) when SWMBO spotted a red ball about 10m away .. I turned to starboard and as we passed noticed the ball chasing us .. Very Very long line on this one .. Managed to stop and reverse out .. :eek:

Oh happy days ..


:D
 
exfinnsailor said:
WE picked a couple up last year just of the pier at Walton .. I did see them and it was to late to do much about it so headed between the two .. Big mistake .. We heard them banging about under the boat and I waited for them to come out the back .. Nothing .. So we continued and just off the Naze Tower we saw two plastic milk bottles bob to the surface .. Must have dragged the pot a good 1/2 mile .. Hope he found it .. :D .. Second one was off Ramsgate .. We had just been hit by a F6 squal ( Lucky the sails were down ) when SWMBO spotted a red ball about 10m away .. I turned to starboard and as we passed noticed the ball chasing us .. Very Very long line on this one .. Managed to stop and reverse out .. :eek:

Oh happy days ..


:D
Click to expand...

years ago a Barracuda 45 towed a pot from Harwich to Oostende on the Mercator race. they didnt know it was on one of the rudders till they arrived
 
Over near Sicily they have two white led lights on nets etc (launched from small open boats so not a major operation). One end steady, the other end flashing.
I don't suppose they cost too much but they mean markers need to be above the surface and are visible at night.
If the powers that be stated that all markers should be visible at night (which, to be honest is actually a real no-brainer as they all should be) then they could remove any that don't have lights on them.
Easy.
Except that would mean policing it, which no-one in authority actually cares about. :eek:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top