Tag Found at Tobermory Lighthouse

In August a walker handed in a green plastic looped tag, found at Rhubha nan Gal lighthouse (Tobermory Lighthouse). There were initials and numbers engraved along it and we decided to Google in the information -

‘99 DFO LOB. NFLD’

What came up was intriguing, if a bit of a long shot, so we emailed the ‘long shot’ just to see if what we imagined could be true.

The Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, in Labrador, responded almost straight away and I quote…..

‘This is a tag used for lobster traps in 1999’

I asked if this meant that the tag had drifted all the way across the Atlantic and the answer came back that it had taken 11 years to reach us here on Mull.

Subsequent emailed details came through recently:
‘Lobster trap tags are used to ensure that trap limits are respected. Tags are issued to licence holders in accordance with the number of traps that are authorised. The tags are sequentially numbered and are issued annually. A tag must be securely fastened to the frame of a lobster trap prior to it being set for fishing. The lobster trap will identify the fish harvester who owns the trap. It is illegal to set a lobster trap, when the lobster season is open, without a valid trap tag fastened. The lobster trap tag numbers are identified in the licence holder’s licence. Lobster trap tags were introduced in 1987.’

Somehow the world felt smaller.

Ps, Google Labrador. Definitely worth a visit.

Judy (Mum)