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NEWS
Brisbane boating blitz
'Operation Mike Waveform' likened to a military assault by pleasure boatersBrisbane and Redland Bay Water Police, the Public Safety Response Team, and the Roadside Drug and the Alcohol Testing Unit have conducted a multi-agency marine enforcement operation in the greater Brisbane area over the weekend.
The operation focused on marine safety, with an emphasis on drug and alcohol testing of commercial and recreational boat users on the waters of Moreton Bay, Bramble Bay, Deception Bay, Pumicestone Passage and the Brisbane, Pine and Logan River systems as well as at local boat ramps, launch sites and beaches.
Operation Mike Waveform targeted the peak summer boating period with an emphasis on drug and alcohol testing of commercial operators as well as recreational boat users.
Police, along with officers from Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ), Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, utilised nine vessels to carry out enforcement as part of the operation.
Some recreational boaters who were anchored at Tangalooma Wrecks at the time lamented on social media that the operation was carried out with an intimidating military-style air completely at odds with the otherwise relaxed atmosphere of the anchorage. One person reported a fine for carrying a tender that was apparently not in use but didn't have the appropriate sticker pertaining to its mothership.
There was also a lot of online discussion about the legalities of being aboard your boat at anchor and drinking. According to MSQ's website: "Skippers of recreational boats should also be aware that, when their boat is anchored, it still be considered to be used for navigation, and the blood alcohol limit applies. The limit does not change unless the boat is securely moored in a marina, to a jetty or wharf or on a swing mooring."
"Forty officers from their respective agencies and sections had the opportunity to cross deck with one another to focus skill sets which maximised the effectiveness of this operation," Senior Sergeant David Edden said.
A total of 282 vessels were intercepted during the operation resulting in 222 random breath tests and 34 random drug tests being carried out and 65 marine infringement notices being issued.
Police also arrested and charged six people with a variety of offences including drug driving (vehicles), possession of dangerous drug, possession of drug utensil, public nuisance and obstruct police.
Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol district manager Rob McDonald said it was pleasing to see most recreational fishers were doing the right thing.
"Fishing rules are in place to protect our fisheries resources for future generations," Mr McDonald said.
"While the catch rate was down dramatically with only an estimated two per cent of vessels having fish on-board, it was pleasing to see most people complied with fish size and possession limits, with only three fisheries infringement notices issued."
Meanwhile, we of course champion the boating safety messages on our sites and embrace the advice of authorities to play within the rules. But we also hope the chummy attitude of our on-water policing bodies isn't replaced with a heavy handedness that discourages boating.
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Written byBoatsales Staff
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