Yachting and Boating World forums: 'Pots' and Nets

I have posted the following story elsewhere but feel, whilst most press is bad, there maybe some hope for better relations between fishermen earning a difficult living and us pleasure boaters. I am in no doubt that this is a contentious and difficult issue and I myself until now have not been a fan of fishermen but I hope the following story may be the beginning of better relations between people who use the sea for a living and those who use it for pleasure.

My home sailing grounds are between the Goodwin sands and the East Kent shoreline between Ramsgate and Dover. There are a dwindling amount of local fishermen eaking a living from the sea. As a result, whatever their speciality, either crabs, lobsters or fish they use the tools of their trade; pots and nets. There has been a lot of discussion, usually bad press about the way they mark their tools and to be honest until recently I have not been a great fan of theirs. But, this weekend I went to Calais and had to battle the pots and nets in the Ramsgate Channel which runs off shore between Ramsgate and Deal. The pots are marked with items from, ballcocks to significant brightly coloured buoys. I'd managed to miss all the pots, (my engine was still running and my prop wasn't fouled) when I was approached by a fishing boat. He hailed me and chatted on the VHF. He advised me that he had just laid some nets and they were marked with some very visible flags and radar reflectors. He told me he had laid three sets of nets (across the channel), the ends of which were marked with the flags. I could see them. He then asked me to follow him to clear the nets. I did. When we were past the nets he thanked me for my co-operation and wished me well. I replied "no, my thanks to you for advising me of the danger and guiding me past your nets"

The point to this story.... We (us baoting fraternity) all use the sea for pleasure or livelyhood. It is very refreshing and good for relations when we communicate peacfully our intentions and the dangers increasing the harmony between pleasure and livleyhood. I raise my glass to the fishermen who, above and beyond the call of duty, informed and guided me of and around the dangers.

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