ROCK FISHING WARNING

With rock fishing season underway, Surf Life Saving Australia is urging anglers to wear a life jacket and appropriate footwear, and to heed dangerous surf conditions warnings. Families are also being asked to discuss safety with their loved ones before they go fishing, and ensure they wear a life jacket.

The 2012 National Coastal Safety Report produced by Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) found that 84% of rock fishing related drownings were from Asian communities. And in a startling indicator of how poorly-prepared many rock fishers are, 75% of respondents recently interviewed admitted to never wearing a lifejacket when they fish.

Surf Life Saving has joined forces with fishing organisations to educate participants on safety. These include running Safe Fishing Workshops, installing multi-lingual rock fishing signage and releasing regular multi-lingual dangerous surf and rock fishing warnings. Additional ‘angel rings’ (life buoys) have also been installed at popular ocean rock fishing spots.

SLSA Public Safety Education Coordinator, Anthony Bradstreet, said the program would continue to target high-risk groups, particularly in culturally and linguistically diverse communities. “Surf Life Saving receives a small amount of federal funding to undertake these initiatives nationally, and they are conducted in partnership with various fishing groups” he said.

“Rock fishers need to ensure they fish in a safe manner and we are working with recreational fishing bodies to focus on and review educational interventions”, he said.

“We are entering what is statistically a very dangerous time for rock fishing and Sunday’s double drowning in Sydney harbor is a tragic start to the season”.

Surf Life Saving has also renewed a dangerous surf warning for the NSW coast for the remainder of the week. “We are appealing to the families of anglers, particularly in the Asian community, to ensure their loved ones are fishing safely, and never when there is a dangerous surf warning current. We have seen too many families affected over recent years, and the best prevention is to stay home when the conditions aren’t appropriate”, Mr. Bradstreet said.

“Our simple message to rock fishers is – always wear a lifejacket and don’t put your life on the line. Also, do not fish alone,” Mr Bradstreet concluded.

SLSA also cautions would-be rescuers with two cases over the past weekend involved people attempting rescues. “Ifyou witness someone falling into the water, do not jump in yourself,” said Mr Bradstreet. “Use a rope, angel ring or another flotation device and call emergency number.”