Working tirelessly in Fife, I've spent countless hours, alongside dedicated teams, cleaning up our beautiful beaches. It's a laborious task, made more so by the heavy and hazardous fishing gear - creels, nets, and other equipment - that we regularly haul away. This gear clutters our coastline, endangers beachgoers and marine life, and puts undue strain on the volunteers who give their time to keep our environment clean.

It's time for a change in how we manage abandoned fishing gear. Requiring fishermen to tag and retrieve their own equipment would significantly alleviate the burden on beach cleaning volunteers. Despite their best intentions, volunteer clean-up efforts cannot keep pace with the sheer volume of fishing gear left behind. It's not just a matter of environmental preservation; it's about fairness and responsibility.

Fishing gear not only mars the natural beauty of our beaches, but it poses a serious risk to marine wildlife, entangling creatures in its mesh. According to Marine Scotland, it's estimated that over 12 million tonnes of litter enters our oceans annually, much of it consisting of discarded fishing equipment. This littering of our waters is not sustainable, and the responsibility should lie primarily with those who benefit most from these resources.

Implementing a requirement for fishermen to tag their gear will provide accountability. Tagged equipment that washes ashore can then be traced back to its owner, encouraging responsible disposal practices. With proper management and regulation, such as fines or penalties for non-compliance, we could drastically reduce the amount of abandoned gear.

By incorporating this change into Scottish law, we uphold a standard that respects our environment, honors the efforts of volunteers, and promotes a sustainable fishing industry. We ask for your support to make this change a reality and protect the pristine coasts of Scotland for generations to come. Please sign this petition to mandate that all fishermen tag and retrieve their fishing gear.

We are also hoping to raise awareness of the issue so please use social media and the hashtag #fisherspickupyourstuff and share photos of fishing gear left on beaches. You can also tag me @marine.conserva_sean