Opinion

Rock fishing

On a per head count the Frazer Park-Wybung Head-Snapper Point stretch of coast south of Swansea may well be the most dangerous for rock fishermen in Australia, having claimed about 25 rock fishermen since the last 1950s. Many times that number have been washed into the sea and rescued, some seriously injured or close to death. This week Snapper Point claimed another fisherman, a man in his 50s. The highest toll of rock fishermen is at Yellow Rock, near Maroubra, well over 100, but I'd imagine that this site attracts many more fishermen than Frazer Park and surrounds.

With, typically, more than 10 deaths a year in NSW, rock fishing is our most dangerous sport, and the cost of search and rescue is high. Yet it is without regulation, without a single safety requirement.

In my column in The Herald today I compare that freedom from safety regulation with another ocean fishing pursuit, boat fishing. A recreational boat heading out through the heads is required to have lifejackets, anchor, bailing bucket or pump, compass, two orange flares, two red flares, a fire extinguisher, a hard-copy map, marine radio, an emergency position-indicating beacon, oars or an auxiliary motor, a horn, a fluorescent V sheet, two litres of water for each person and a waterproof torch.

Rock fishermen can wear lead boots if they wish, and the fact is that so often their shoes and clothing is as effective in drowning them as lead boots.

Why should they not be required to adopt certain safety standards? Even if only for the safety of those who would rescue them? I propose that at the least rock fishermen be required to wear a lifejacket, carry a personal locating beacon, be attached to any available lifeline, and pay for their rescue if they have not met these requirements. And is there a good reason for not banning rock fishing on the Frazer Park-Wybung Head-Snapper Point coast?

Posted By: Jeff Corbett on 5/05/2010 5:26:00 PM | Comments (37)

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the only fish I catch has paper around it and is already cooked. Don't need lead shoes for that. On a more serious note, the sport should have some regulations and perhaps even an insurance premium. The insurance companies would love that. It obviously costs to rescue these people. Perhaps even an education about the dangers.

Posted by suzhousid, 6/05/2010 10:11:38 AM, on The Herald

great idea..provide attachment points for harnesses at fishing spots like these and make it compulsory to use them. a bloke i used to work with drowned after being washed in off rocks. he was very fit and a good swimmer, which is no help when you sink like a rock in aerated water. its like trying to swim in heavy fog.

Posted by catl, 6/05/2010 10:13:44 AM, on The Herald

all sounds fair to me. as well as your proposals i reckon that people competing in ocean based events, such as the surf life saving event in which, tragically, a young man recently drowned, should be wearing a locating device on them (around their wrists?). as soon as someone disappears they can be located by GPS technology on shore and in rubber duckies directing rescuers to their location. perhaps these devices could have a duress button on them?

Posted by judgedredd, 6/05/2010 10:15:14 AM, on The Herald

That's an interesting proposal, J.

Posted by Jeff Corbett on 6/05/2010 10:46:23 AM

I have never been rock fishing, but I have fished from the beach in Lake Macquarie and from a boat on Lake Macquarie. Most experienced rock fishermen have no problems and it wouldn't be fair to weigh them down with unnecessary paraphernalia. Most who get into trouble are newcomers including foreigners.

Posted by Geoff, 6/05/2010 10:16:09 AM, on The Herald

I'm sure the same argument could be made for anyone who chooses to swim at the beach either within the flags of a patrolled beach, or non patrolled. Because surf life savers put themselves at the same risk every time they go to rescue someone. One of the risks being the drowning person drowning the rescuer through panic. We could ask all swimmers to wear floaties of some sort.

Posted by leahkf, 6/05/2010 10:17:35 AM, on The Herald

My fishing career began as a little grommet hanging around the old punt wharf and the ferry wharf at stockton. I then progressed to the breakwall and as soon as a vehicle was available it was off to the rock ledges of Tomaree and Jervis bay. During this apprenticeship I learnt of the dangers involved with my chosen sport and adjusted my actions to siut the conditions and have never had a problem. My point here is that experienced rock fishermen are rarely a statistic whereas fishermen from some of our northern neighbours (predominantly south-east asia) are consistently represented in the casualty list due to their ignorance of the dangers. Many of these low-lying rock ledges are sign-posted in various languages to indicate the dangers involved but in alot of cases the warnings are ignored. Life rings are also set up in many of these locations but unfortunately are often vandalised or stolen. The government can apply as many laws as they want but getting people to follow them is an entirely different matter. Boat owners might be required to carry all that safety gear but you'd be surprised the amount that don't.

Posted by G, 6/05/2010 10:44:48 AM, on The Herald

I fully agree with you on this one Jeff.

Posted by leopardgirl, 6/05/2010 10:47:04 AM, on The Herald

We could remove the rail line. It seems to be the solution of every problem around here.

Posted by Nafe, 6/05/2010 11:01:03 AM, on The Herald

Get NCC to call in some consultants to sort it out.

Posted by Scott Hillard, 6/05/2010 12:13:12 PM, on The Herald

If they catch too many rocks won't they become endangered?

Posted by moron, 6/05/2010 12:26:15 PM, on The Herald

They do catch a lot of rocks, moron. That's almost as big a problem as a dunking.

Posted by Jeff Corbett on 6/05/2010 12:34:55 PM

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