Protection from entanglement
While sailing this year from Dover to the Isle of Wight we took the route through the Looe Channel.
The Looe Channel is close to Selsey Bill and two closely placed buoys mark its entry. The channel is margined by rocky shallows to the north and south, and the tidal stream flows quickly east to west and west to east, dependent on the tidal flow at the time. The water can become quite rough, particularly when wind is against tide.
Markers for lobster pots placed in areas of high water flow get dragged under the surface, effectively masking their presence altogether, and some irresponsible fisherman had decided to place his pot in the channel where the stream was discharging within the overfalls. The pot marker was only discovered in my wake and we were lucky not to have been caught by it. If this behaviour is allowed to continue it will not be long before someone is caught in the fast stream and wrecked on the rocks.
Can we do anything to protect ourselves from irresponsible fishermen putting pots in dangerous positions?
Peter South Both the RYA and the Cruising Association have campaigned for years to get the Government to look at the marking of lobster pots. A multi-agency Lobster Pots and Small Craft Safety Working Group was formed in January 2019, but data is needed on the number of incidents. Skippers who experience prop entanglement due to poorly marked fishing gear should fill out a reporting form to help. https://www.rya.org. uk/knowledge-advice/safe-boating/lookafter-yourself/pages/fishing-gear-incidentreport-form.aspx Editor