Fresh focus on lobster pot entanglement
Measures to tackle the poor marking of fishing gear, which is a constant danger to boaters sailing in UK waters, are to be drawn up by a new multiagency task force.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is leading the new Lobster Pots and Small Craft Safety Working Group, which includes the RYA, the Cruising Association (CA), relevant government agencies and The National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations.
The RYA and the CA have both campaigned extensively on the issue, with the CA petitioning the British Government to improve the marking of gear. It responded asking for further evidence of the problem.
The RYA’s cruising manager, Stuart Carruthers said poorly marked fishing gear poses a hazard to navigation, and has been a major concern for the RYA for years.
“Through this newly established working group we will continue to seek better ways for avoiding entanglement and improved enforcement action for those who ignore the law,” he stated.
The group is now reviewing the effectiveness of current arrangements for fishing gear marking in the UK before investigating alternative regulations to protect boaters.
In Scotland, new laws to ban the use of milk bottles and other inappropriate equipment to mark creel and lobster pots are to be introduced in spring this year.