Fishing Safety Survey

[mrmoshe]

Fishing safety survey

IMPROVING the safety of rock fishing will be a key aspect of a new survey aimed at saving lives and making the sport more enjoyable. Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald said the $67,000 survey would examine the circumstances of rock fishing deaths and address safety issues.

Since 1990, at least 24 rock fishermen have died on the peninsula coastline, most being of Asian origin. In July, a 48-year-old Korean rock fisherman was pulled unconscious from the water at Whale Beach but died a few days later.

Multi-lingual signs warning about cliff safety are already displayed at Bluefish Point at North Head, regarded as one of the most dangerous rock fishing locations.

Mr Macdonald said the project would broaden a 2003 study prepared for the NSW Water safety Taskforce, specifically looking at rock fishing fatalities.

The report examined details and demographics of the 74 rock fishing deaths which have occurred in NSW between 1992 and 2000.

“Improving safety and saving lives are the key objectives of a new study designed to investigate the nature of fishing fatalities,” Mr Macdonald said.

“Recreational fishing is enjoyed by many people in NSW but there are safety issues that we are keen to address through better education and understanding.”

The report, being undertaken by the Royal Life Saving Society Australia, will compare the earlier data and assess whether safety messages are being effectively understood.

“This study will assist us in developing health promotion and training programs, public education, and aquatic risk management services to prevent recreational fishing injury and fatality,” the society’s state CEO, David Macallister, said.

“It will also include a random telephone survey of 1000 rock fishers to enable us to assess a range of perceptions and opinions relating to recreational fishing and to identify new trends and changing habits.”