It's great that people are interested in getting rubbish out of the canal, however we don't allow magnet fishing as it can be extremely dangerous. Items dragged out by magnets could be sharp or heavy and cause you to be dragged into the water. We've even had reports of people fishing out old war bombs and dumped weapons.
When people leave piles of metal on the towpath, it can cause problems for other visitors, for example families with young children.
Safer alternatives to magnet fishing
There are lots of ways you can enjoy the canal safely. Research published recently shows that people are happier and less stressed by water, so the canal is definitely a great place to visit. For those keen on fishing, there's lots of ways to do this as an alternative to magnet fishing.
