Lobster pots troubles

[Gaelmart]

Hi all
I'm just in from a run around the bay (Donegal) and I can't belive the stupidy of those people that think its ok to put 30m of rope accross the top of the water with a milk carton or little net weights tied to the end.

I know nothing about lobsters or whatever there trying to catch but its seems they are allways placed in the channel which of course is the problem.

Someone died a few years ago up here because the prop got cought in a rope and it dragged the stern down, mixed with engine weight and no doubt lads trying to free it. Anyway she sank and one died.

It make night, fog, rough('cause you can't see there stupid bouys) boating completely impossible.

Is there a law against where they can place them.?

To be honest if I knew I wasn't coming back 'till after dark. I'd have no choice but to cut the dam lot on the way out as there is 95% chance i'd snar one on the way back.

K Rant over.

Gary

[jwalker]

I'm not aware of a law governing their placing but I agree with your sentiments. You can report badly marked pots to the RYA; they are making an issue of it. I believe there's a place on their website for reporting.

[BruceB]

I was diving off a large hardboat last year which had a call to a diving emergency in the middle of the day south of the North Channel.
Passing down the coast off Ireland the prop snagged a long rope left floating loose off a pot. The rope was floating rope left on the surface loose from one of the up lines. Not only did it stop the boat responding to the lost diver but it left us almost up s**t creek. The sea was quite rough and the boat couldn't move for over 1.5hrs, all during which the boat was being pushed towards the shore.
It was finally cut out and the prop freed with great difficulty and at some danger to some of the party diving underneath a rapidly bouncing 75 ton boat before we ended up on the shore.
I bet the guy always wondered what happened to his gear as usually if they lose both bouys a grapnel across the bottom line will usually recover it.
We had dragged the whole line of pots about 1.5 miles towards shore while disabled and for good measure cut both uplines trying to free the boat. Obviously we weren't in the mood to retie them back on by the finish.
I don't mind pots but I do mind floating lines and milk bottles marking the uplines, these are asking for trouble.

[Nos4r2]

Thought it was illegal to use floating line on pots?

[gtflash]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Thought it was illegal to use floating line on pots?

isnt there a lobster pot help line in the solent to report troublesome pots!

[Mollers]

Crabpots are a nightmare at night. The inshore pots down this way tend to be set by dare I say it, less professional small 'day boats'. The bigger commercial guys use multi-pot line systems which are well marked due to the value of gear lying on the sea bed. What pees me off is the random single pot dropped right in the middle of a well used port to port course with a milk can marker. They deserve the chop. (after being checked for crabs).

[m chappelow]

and all it needs is a small wieght about 2 or 3 mtr down from the bouy to stop most entanglements, and will agree it seems to be the amateurs that set there markers that way ,and just be wary if you do decide to pull on someones marker line or if you get one around your prop a few set old fishing hooks in certain sections of line to deter others pulling them up .

[Polwart]

Originally Posted by jwalker

I'm not aware of a law governing their placing but I agree with your sentiments.

JW I am fairly sure there are local bye laws in many harbour authorities which would preclude placing of pots in channels (obstructing,being a hazard to navigation) and even in some cases banning poorly marked pots.

Gaelmart - if there is a local harbour master - that is where I would channel my complaint. How sympathetic he is may depend on who pays him more leisure sailors or fishermen.

[Locozodiac]

Originally Posted by Polwart

JW I am fairly sure there are local bye laws in many harbour authorities which would preclude placing of pots in channels (obstructing,being a hazard to navigation) and even in some cases banning poorly marked pots.

Gaelmart - if there is a local harbour master - that is where I would channel my complaint. How sympathetic he is may depend on who pays him more leisure sailors or fishermen.

I think that all fishermen doing that type of extraction activity should be registered at the local harbor, and the ones not using a proper visual size buoy be heavyly finned for being a real danger to navigation. Other hazzard activity is compressor diving, lenghts of hose meters from compressor to diver and no marking buoys on the floating hose line between them.

Happy Boating

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Polwart

Gaelmart - if there is a local harbour master - that is where I would channel my complaint. How sympathetic he is may depend on who pays him more leisure sailors or fishermen.

The fishermen will always get priority as they make the most noise and are there all year round. They usually prop-up the bar with the HM guys also.

Even 'Pontoon Pete' the legendary hire boat operator at Mylor Harbour creeps up the arses of the local fishermen.