Magnificent response to Lobster Pot Campaign Petition
by Peta Stuart-Hunt 13 Mar 2018 07:23 PDT
The Cruising Association is successfully highlighting the dangers to small boats of entanglement in unmarked lobster pots and static fishing gear © Guy Brown
The Cruising Association (CA) campaign to improve small craft safety by securing the better marking of lobster pots, goes from strength to strength.
The petition, on the Parliamentary Petitions website, closed at midnight with 10,767 signatures.
Having successfully passed the 10,000 mark, there is now a requirement upon the Government to give a written reply.
The Cruising Association President, Judith Grimwade, commented: "We believe we have established that something needs to be done about badly marked gear and that the wider boating community strongly supports what the CA is trying to do."
She continued:
"Our view is that constructive consultation including all interested parties is the way to find a solution that is practical and affordable for our fishermen. We are looking to the Government to sponsor and support that consultation.
We are not naïve and don't expect instant answers. All along we have said we are in this for the long haul."
The CA will now be pressing for the consultation that the petition demanded. The strong relationships that have been built up with the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations, British Ports Authority, and many other stakeholders during the campaign will be sustained and increase the likelihood of finding a long-term solution.
Everyone is being urged to report incidents this summer to the Cruising Association via and to the RYA via their online incident report form.
The CA knows that there are many such incidents, but acknowledges that it now needs to convince those beyond the boating community. The Cruising Association's Campaign video, introduced by Tom Cunliffe, can be viewed below.