Cruising Association launches Lobster Pot Campaign to improve safety at sea

Cruising Association launches Lobster Pot Campaign to improve safety at sea © Robert Falk

Marked Gear = Safe Gear

The Cruising Association (CA) has launched its Lobster Pot Campaign, a national initiative calling for safer, more visible marking of static fishing gear in UK waters.

The campaign was officially launched at the South Coast Boat Show on Friday 8 May 2026, by renowned sailor and author Tom Cunliffe, alongside Campaign Chair Ian Wilson CBE.

Poorly marked lobster pots and creels remain a persistent and avoidable hazard. Often difficult to detect - particularly in busy coastal waters, low light, or adverse conditions - they can lead to fouled propellers, loss of propulsion, vessel damage, and in serious cases, danger to crews and vessels.

While the issue is long-standing, it remains unresolved. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency's (MCA) voluntary guidance on 'Static fishing gear: Design of ends' (reissued in 2024) is widely recognised and followed by many fishermen. However, as compliance is not mandatory, inconsistent marking continues to pose risks. Incidents involving entanglement, near-misses, and emergency rescues continue to be reported. About 25% of entanglements are suffered by fishing boats. Since 2020, legislation in Scotland has made it illegal to mark creels with anything other than a dedicated buoy.

Call for enforceable regulation

The Lobster Pot Campaign is calling for existing MCA guidance to be made mandatory and enforceable, establishing clear and consistent standards to improve visibility, reduce ambiguity, and reduce risk for all water users.

Robin Baron, President of the Cruising Association said, "Poorly marked fishing gear continues to present a real and avoidable danger. This campaign is about improving clarity, consistency, and ultimately safety at sea - for everyone. By working together and strengthening existing guidance, we can reduce risk and support safer navigation in our waters. The issue is not fishing, but unsafe marking practices that put all water users at risk.

"Clear marking saves lives, protects livelihoods and keeps our waters safe for everyone."

A spokesperson for the MCA added, "We welcome this campaign to encourage reporting of specific navigational safety incidents linked to poorly marked static fishing gear, which will help quantify the scale and location of potential hazards."

Campaign aims

Building on its original campaign launched in 2018, the CA's 2026 campaign focuses on strengthening the case for action and moving from voluntary guidance to enforceable standards.

Through its Manifesto, growing evidence base, and collaboration across the marine sector, the campaign aims to:

• Raise awareness of the risks posed by poorly marked static fishing gear
• Collect and publish incident data on poorly marked static fishing gear
• Highlight high-risk locations of poorly marked static fishing gear
• Work constructively with fishing and boating communities
• Advocate for enforceable Government regulation of poorly marked static fishing gear

Report an incident

The Cruising Association, the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), and Irish Sailing are calling on boaters to report entanglements and sightings of poorly marked gear.

Reports can be submitted via the RYA Fishing Gear Reporting Form, including details such as location, time, conditions, and photos. The data is used to build a national picture of risk, with results published as a heat map to inform future action.

Boaters are encouraged to report, every time:

• Entanglement incidents - whether you were directly involved or witnessed an incident, and
• Sightings of unmarked, poorly marked, or lost static fishing gear.

Support the Campaign

The Lobster Pot Campaign is supported by our Alliance partners: The Royal Institute of Navigation, Practical Boat Owner, Yachting Monthly and the Westerly Owners' Association.

The Cruising Association invites organisations and individuals across the marine sector to partner with us in strengthening this campaign. By sharing campaign materials and helping to share key messages, you can play a vital role in improving awareness and driving safer practices.

For further information, to support the campaign, or to access resources, please visit www.theca.org.uk/lobster-pot-campaign