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Current Affairs 

The RYA works to ensure that legislators, regulators and other authorities understand, and take account of, recreational boating activity.

As the representative voice of boating the RYA follows clear principles which are set out in the RYA Manifesto (external link).

Read about some of the issues that the RYA is working on with the latest updates below. 

Offshore tidal energy
The RYA acknowledges the Government's desire to promote renewable energy; however we are keen to ensure the navigational safety of recreational boating around the coast.

Offshore wind energy
The RYA focuses on the safety of navigation in and around wind farms.

Invasive non-native species
The RYA is providing guidance for recreational boaters to help minimise the spread of invasive non-native species.

Marine Conservation Zones
The RYA is working to ensure that recreational boating's interests are considered.

Carriage of Pyrotechnic Flares
The RYA is keen to ensure that technological advances in distress alerting are embraced as widely as possible.

Poorly marked fishing gear and small craft safety
The RYA wants to achieve better marking of static fishing gear, making it visible by day and at night

Red diesel
The RYA considers that marked red diesel should continue to be available to recreational boaters in the UK for the purpose of propelling a private pleasure craft, provided that appropriate duty has been paid.

Border Controls
The RYA has serious concerns over proposed border controls for recreational craft entering or leaving the UK.

Boat registration
The RYA believes that boat registration in the UK should remain voluntary.

HM Coastguard restructure
The RYA is working to ensure that current service levels are maintained and improved.

Alcohol and boating
The RYA urges all boaters not to mix alcohol and boating

Light dues
The RYA opposes the levying of light dues on recreational craft of less than 20GT.

Personal Floatation Devices
The RYA recommends that recreational boaters wear a life-jacket or buoyancy aid unless they are sure they don't need to.

Skipper licensing
The RYA does not believe that compulsory skipper licensing will of itself enhance safety.

EU Road worthiness regulations
The RYA has worked to have smaller trailers excluded from new EU legislation.

Marine licensing - dredging - England
The RYA is lobbying to ensure that the new requirement to obtain a marine licence for maintenance dredging is proportionate.

Marine licence: Fee structure
The RYA is concerned that current MMO licence fees are not proportionate or appropriate.

Marine Navigation Act 2013
The RYA has secured an appropriate safeguard to protect harbour users.

Red diesel
The RYA considers that marked red diesel should continue to be available to recreational boaters in the UK for the purpose of propelling a private pleasure craft, provided that appropriate duty has been paid.

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