Without licensing, or even a statutory need for insurance, it is often impossible for authorities to track down owners of abandoned boats. This, however, is unlikely to resolve the problem long-term because no sooner has one wreck been cleared, another end-of-life boat is often abandoned in its place. And there lies the rub: UK boat manufacturers do not want to see any increase in retail costs (EPR), while the Royal Yachting Association has historically not supported compulsory boat registration. Where progress is being madeTo date, France is the only country within Europe to have a nationwide scheme to recycle end-of-life boats which provides a model for other nations to follow. Managed by South Hams District Council, the research programme has successfully demonstrated that piece-by-piece disassembly, recovery and recycling of end-of-life boats is both achievable and time-efficient.