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Magnet fishing

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A pair of bolt cutters collected through magnet fishing in the Scarpe at Lallaing, France
A neodymium magnet used for magnet fishing

Magnet fishing, also called magnetic fishing, is searching in outdoor waters for ferromagnetic objects available to pull with a strong neodymium magnet.[1]

Practitioners

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In English, people who practice magnet fishing may be called magnetfishers or magneteers.

It is thought magnet fishing was initially started by boaters using magnets to recover fallen keys from the water.[2] Magnet fishing as a hobby began to take off in the early 2000's starting in Europe.[3]

Objects recovered

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Magnet fishing can recover metal debris such as discarded bicycles, guns,[4] safes,[5] bombs,[6] grenades,[7] coins and car tire rims from bodies of water, but many who engage in the hobby are hoping to find rare and valuable items as well.[8][9]

Tools

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Typical magnet fishing equipment, including protective gloves, a bucket for storing catches, antibacterial hand gel, and a neodymium magnet attached to a rope.

Magnet fishing is typically done with gloves,[10] a strong neodymium magnet secured to a durable rope between 15 and 30 meters (50–100 ft), and sometimes a grappling hook as a supplement to the magnet.[11] For safety it is recommended to also use a pair of gloves to protect your hands from any sharp objects you may pull up with your magnet. [12]

Potential harms

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Some magnet fishers have retrieved dangerous objects, including loaded guns, unexploded ordnance,[13][14][6][15] and sharp pieces of metal.[10]

Neodymium magnets are powerful and can interfere with pacemakers, posing a health risk; they can also damage other electronic devices. Fingers can get crushed between the magnet and a piece of metal, potentially causing serious bodily harm.[11] Tetanus can also be a risk for those without an up-to-date tetanus vaccine.[8][medical citation needed]

In general, police urge those who find weapons or similar items to contact them.[2][16]

Magnet fishing and the law

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Street sign pulled out of the Jizera in Svijany, Czech Republic, with the magnet used to retrieve it still attached to the signpost.

Depending on the jurisdiction, anything of value may belong to the local government, not the finder.[13]

Belgium

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Amateur magnet-fishers in Belgium helped the police by recovering new evidence, specifically firearms and ammunition, related to the crimes of the Brabant killers.[17]


France

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The rules of magnet fishing are the same as those governing the detection of buried objects:

“No one may use equipment capable of detecting metallic objects for the purpose of searching for monuments and objects likely to be of interest to prehistory, history, art or archaeology without first obtaining an administrative authorisation issued in accordance with the applicant’s qualifications and the nature and manner of the search”.[18]

Germany

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In Hamburg, magnet fishing without a permit is punishable by fine.[19][20] In Berlin, magnet fishing is governed under the same rules as metal detecting, which requires a permit. Permits are not granted to hobbyists, as the context of any find is lost when untrained personnel disturb a site.[21] Like all major cities in Germany that experienced fighting and strategic bombing during World War II, unexploded ordnance poses a serious risk.[21]

England and Wales

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Magnet fishing is subject to local regulations concerning outdoor waters. The Canal & River Trust, which owns most of the canals in England and Wales, has bylaws prohibiting people from removing material from the canal and rivers it owns, so fishers may be subject to a £25 fine[22] for magnet-fishing or removing any material from canal or inland navigation under the control of the Canal & River Trust in England or Wales, other than the Lee and Stort Navigation, Gloucester and Sharpness Canal, and River Severn Navigation.[23] The Trust "expressly prohibit[s]" the practice, although it refrains from legal action against first-time offenders.[2] In 2018, a child magnet-fished a sawn-off shotgun out of the Titford Canal in Oldbury, West Midlands.[24]

Poland

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According to Polish penal code, magnet fishing without a valid government permit is a crime punishable by up to two years imprisonment.[25][26][27]

Scotland

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Magnet fishing is allowed in Scotland. If planning to magnet fish in a scheduled area (including the Canal Network), then the fisher must first obtain a Scheduled Monument Consent from Historic Environment Scotland, and permission from Scottish Canals. An official group exists which gives its members permission to magnet fish in a stretch of the Union Canal in Edinburgh, with more locations planned in the future. Archaeological or historical finds must be reported to Treasure Trove Scotland.[28]

United States

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In the US, there are no federal laws restricting metal fishing. Magnet fishing in state waters without a license is prohibited in South Carolina under the Underwater Antiquities Act.[29] In Indiana, magnet fishing is allowed on public waters on Department of Natural Resources properties by permit. The magnet must be able to be carried and retrieved by hand.[30] Certain states have their own regulations pertaining to magnet fishing.[31]

Popularity

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The hobby has been adopted by celebrities such as English rugby player James Haskell.[10][2]

See also

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  • Rag-and-bone man – Traditional name for some income-seekers
  • Metal detector – Electronic instrument which detects the presence of metal nearby
  • Scrap – Recyclable materials left over from manufactured products after their use
  • Tosher – Someone who scavenges in the sewers
  • Mudlark – Someone who scavenges for items of value on the shores of rivers

References

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  1. ^ Vaissiere, Elia; Warda, Mathilde (31 August 2019). "Magnet fishing: The explosive hobby cleaning up French rivers". Yahoo! News. Agence France-Presse. Archived from the original on 2020-04-11. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d Elliott, Coran (18 August 2018). "Safety warning as rise in magnet fishing hobby sees anglers fish out guns and grenades in UK rivers". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 18 August 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  3. ^ "The History of Magnet Fishing: Discover the Origins and Evolution". www.magnetfishingisfun.com. 2024-08-21. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  4. ^ Givens, La'Tasha (4 September 2020). "Brothers' pandemic hobby leads to alarming find in Georgia river". WXIA-TV. Archived from the original on 11 December 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  5. ^ "6-Year-Old Boy Finds Stolen Safe At Bottom Of Lake, Solves 8-Year-Old Mystery". WWJ-TV. 20 May 2020. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  6. ^ a b Sellew, Lauren (17 November 2020). "Police: Men fishing find pipe bomb on Oregon Road in Meriden". Record-Journal. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  7. ^ Forrest, Adam (22 December 2020). "Man pulls 19 hand grenades out of river while magnet fishing". The Independent. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  8. ^ a b Taschler, Joe (26 June 2019). "Magnet fishing is a slimy new hobby where people pull guns, bikes and weird stuff out of Milwaukee-area rivers, lakes and lagoons". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on 9 August 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  9. ^ Kousouris, Abby (19 November 2020). "New 'magnet fishing' hobby cleaning up junk and uncovering hidden treasures". WVLT-TV. Archived from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  10. ^ a b c "Magnet fishing: England rugby star James Haskell's unusual hobby" (video). BBC News. 4 February 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  11. ^ a b Aubertin, Violet (26 November 2020). "Magnet Fishing answers the question, 'What's down there?' (25 photos)". SooToday.com. Village Media. Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  12. ^ "Stay Safe While Magnet Fishing | Magnet Fishing Is Fun". www.magnetfishingisfun.com. 2023-12-08. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  13. ^ a b Abel, David (20 September 2020). "Casting about for a new pastime during the pandemic? With magnet fishing, 'it's all about the find'". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on 4 November 2020.
  14. ^ "Person 'magnet fishing' in Beaver Dam recovers grenade that was potentially 'live'". 1 September 2020. Archived from the original on 3 September 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  15. ^ "'God wasn't watching over him': Boy finds live grenade while magnetic fishing". WITI. 24 January 2020. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  16. ^ Chen, Dalson (10 March 2020). "'Magnet fishing' hobbyist finds firearm in water at Reaume Park in east Windsor". Windsor Star. Archived from the original on 11 April 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  17. ^ "'Magneetvissers' bezorgen dozen met munitie en wapens aan speurders Bende van Nijvel". De Standaard (in Dutch). Antwerp, Belgium: Nieuwsblad.be. Raad voor de journalistiek. 26 October 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  18. ^ WebStrategy (2018-02-15). "PÊCHE À L'AIMANT : LANCEZ-VOUS !". ilovedetection (in French). Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  19. ^ "Behörde warnt eindringlich vor Magnetangeln" [Authority warns urgently against magnetic fishing]. Peiner Allgemeine Zeitung (in German). Hamburg: Madsack GmbH & Co. RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland. 23 May 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  20. ^ "Umweltgebührenordnung (UmwGebO) Vom 5. Dezember 1995" [Environmental fee schedule (UmwGebO) From December 5, 1995]. Landesrecht online (in German). Hamburg. 5 December 1995. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  21. ^ a b "Informationen zum Umgang mit Metallsonden und Magnetfischen in Berlin" [Information Regarding the Use of Metal Detectors and Magnet Fishing in Berlin] (PDF). Landesdenkmalamt Berlin (in German). Senate of Berlin. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  22. ^ "The hidden dangers of magnet fishing". BBC News. 2019-09-13. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
  23. ^ "General Canal Bye-laws" (PDF). British Waterways Board. 24 February 1965. p. 16. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2018. 41. No person unless authorised by the Board in that behalf or otherwise legally entitled so to do shall: ... (d) Dredge or remove coal or other material from any canal.
  24. ^ "Family find sawn-off shotgun in canal". ITV News. 28 August 2018. Archived from the original on 29 August 2018.
  25. ^ "Przeszukiwał rzekę magnesem neodymowym. Znalazł zardzewiałą broń. Grożą mu 2 lata więzienia".
  26. ^ "Krasnystaw: Przeszukiwał rzekę za pomocą magnesu, wyłowił broń".
  27. ^ "Pewien obywatel przeszukiwał rzekę za pomocą magnesu, wyłowił broń i… w przypływie głupoty zadzwonił na policję".
  28. ^ "Magnet Fishing". Scottish Canals. Scotland. Archived from the original on 23 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  29. ^ Hill, Katie (December 12, 2022). "As Magnet Fishing Booms, More Guns Are Being Pulled from America's Waters. Can Magnet Fishers Legally Keep Them?". Outdoor Life. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  30. ^ Carroll, Joe (August 5, 2022). "New rules in effect for hunting and magnet fishing". WANE-TV. Fort Wayne, IN. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  31. ^ "Magnet Fishing Laws: A State-by-State Guide - Updated 2024". www.magnetfishingisfun.com. 2024-05-09. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
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