RYA survey of fishing gear entanglements

Concerto

Concerto

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The RYA are collecting details of fishing gear entanglements and poorly marked fishing gear. In June I had my P bracket shear on a fishing marker. I feel sure there have been many of you who have had incidents in the past few years that should be reported to try and improve the marking of fishing gear. I have come across many that are almost impossible to see. In all the decades I have been sailing, the problem is getting worse in my opinion. Please fill in the form with your experiences and hopefully getting more visible marking.

Fishing Gear Incident Reporting Form
 
Our only incident was with a piece of rope 20’ long and 3” thick. That was never going to be marked and clearly had been discarded by a fishing vessel.
Fishermen consider their gear disposable and I can’t imagine a way to change that while keeping fishing viable.
 
Should I report the maze of pots inside the SHMs around Calshot, ie the narrow bit of the Solent densely populated with all kinds of vessels heading in/out Southampton Water trying to keep out the main channel without running around in the shallows?
 
Concerto said:
The RYA are collecting details of fishing gear entanglements and poorly marked fishing gear. In June I had my P bracket shear on a fishing marker. I feel sure there have been many of you who have had incidents in the past few years that should be reported to try and improve the marking of fishing gear. I have come across many that are almost impossible to see. In all the decades I have been sailing, the problem is getting worse in my opinion. Please fill in the form with your experiences and hopefully getting more visible marking.

Fishing Gear Incident Reporting Form
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I wish them success. The Cruising Association ran a campaign on this and gathered signatures for a parliamentary petition back in 2017 but nothing changed
 
The worst offender, that I know, is in the Concarneau entrance. Right on the leading line (if coming in, using the sector light, at night). There always seems to be a pot down. Just before (incoming) the first port hand mark. It might have a flag on. Which shows up, seconds before you hit it, with pulpit steaming lights on. But I always feel that it has Stargazer’s name on it! On the plotter, I actually have a skull & cross bones marker there, to remind me.
IMG_0321.jpeg
So it’s not just UK fishermen….

Must say, I’m very wary of headlands, cutting shallow corners, and off port entrances, if under engine after dark. Because they tend to be pot hotspots. Work on the assumption that marked channels will be clear of fishing gear……
 
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I really wish anything I do would have a impact....but it won't..I've always had long keeled yachts with the prop tucked away. Run over a few with no grief...might not go as quick as your but overall I think I'm winning.
 
Spent many weeks on the South Coast of Cornwall this summer, their latest markers appear to be 2 blue and black footballs in a net as aa marker - By the time you see them its too late!Crab Pots. small.jpg
 
lustyd said:
I’ve been here months. Nothing has changed.
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Either there are particularly well camouflaged fishing floats and I’ve just been incredibly lucky or things are better (but not perfect) here?

In recent years I’ve not seen any pots (etc) marked with an oil can etc.: always a “Proper” float. They are almost invariably orange/yellow/pink although they are often quite faded. They rarely have excess floating rope around the them. Most have a fishing license code on them.

could they be better? Perhaps - but at least during daylight they seem to be OK.
 
I’ve not seen any with a code on them. Most are proper floats, but that’s true in England too. Plenty of black ones up here that we’ve seen and some very long pickups too.
The best I’ve seen were Padstow. Flags on every one all bright colours.
 
lustyd said:
I’ve not seen any with a code on them.
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Then you must not have been looking.
lustyd said:
Most are proper floats, but that’s true in England too.
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Depends entirely where you are. But it definitely is a change since the regulations arrived - so proves that both the rules can change and people will follow (or be forced to follow) them. There are Marine Scotland RIBs operating around the west coast.
lustyd said:
Plenty of black ones up here
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Odd, I’ve not seen any black ones this year - one navy blue, but may have been a private person rather than licensed individual. That’s covering everything from Gigha to Skye and sea lochs to Tiree.
lustyd said:
that we’ve seen and some very long pickups too.
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Yacht mooring bouys with polysteel penants and no pickup bouy cause me more concern.
lustyd said:
The best I’ve seen were Padstow. Flags on every one all bright colours.
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Presumably because they have some local harbour authority that made rules and enforces them - further evidence that things can change?
 
I’m not sure whats more scary, me not seeing the writing or you not seeing the black ones 🤣
Yes Padstow is pretty special in that regard, possibly because Rick Stein owns the whole place so it’s a bit easier
 
My regular sailing area is Sound of Jura, Firth of Lorne, Sound of Mull, between Islay and Mull. I frequently sail through Sound of Luing, or Cuan Sound heading northwards or back eastwards. The rhumb line to Lismore always has creel markers on it. I would guess around 50% have numbers on them. Most of the creel markers are pink, round, mooring buoys, about 12" to 24" in diameter, with the most around the 12" diameter. Rarely, I come across blue creel marker buoys, with no number and they are always brand new looking. Marine Scotland's guidance is weak, with no legislation to back it up in case the fisherman have to choose between legal or illegal markers, it's a joke. Also Dan Buoys are optional. Both the SFF and The SCFF are more interested in members profit margins than safety and allow unsafe practices inshore and of course the SNP are too frightened to piss off these honest, hardworking, fisherman.
 
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