The risks for all yachts and small craft from fishing gear in UK waters appear to be on the increase and it can only be a matter of time before serious accidents, perhaps including loss of life, become common. No effective action by UK authorities is likely in the absence of sufficient incident statistics. CHIRP, the Confidential Hazardous Incident Reporting System, is the natural address for reports. So long as the authorities in the Maritime Coastguard Authority have no reports then as far as they are concerned there is no problem.
Can you please contribute to need for up to date reports on any incidents regarding problems with fishing gear to http://www.chirp.co.uk/new/Maritime .
In addition if you see any reports in newspaper or any other reports please cut them out and send to the cruising department of the Royal Yachting Association. You can also fill in a Chirp or RYA form which can be found on the Webb Site www.rya.org.uk or e amil stuart.carruthers@rya.org.uk .
Without the evidence the RYA and can proceed no further on your behalf. Please send in as much information as possible. This information will hopefully enable us to tackle the problem on behalf of UK yachtsmen.
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