NSW cracks down on offshore boaties chasing tuna, big macs
UPDATED: Roads and Maritimes Services have inspected 255 boats over a single weekend in a crackdown on blue water fishersAn education program targeting offshore fishers swopped on 255 boats along the Hunter and north coast of NSW, the state's water safety watchdog has announced.
NSW Roads and Maritime Services kicked off Operation Blue Water this weekend, with the focus swinging to the state’s north. The crackdown, which started just before dawn on May 4 and continued until sundown on May 6, was aimed at educating boaters about the dangers of heading offshore without sufficient preparation.
Over the period, 16 boaters were issued with penalty notices, while a further 25 were given caution notices. This represents a compliance rate of about 85 per cent.
Another 434 boaters on land were "provided information and advice" about offshore dangers.
“When you are offshore, there are different dangers and different safety equipment you need to have on board to comply with NSW boating safety legislation,” Roads and Maritime executive director Mark Hutchings said.
“There have been a number of recent incidents along the North Coast involving vessels hitting rocks or capsizing when attempting to cross a coastal bar, resulting in the rescue of several people who ended up in the water,” he said.
“These incidents service as a timely reminder for boaters to be prepared when heading off shore and crossing coastal bars, to carry an EPIRB, wear a lifejacket and carry the correct safety equipment.”
While the peak summer boating season has ended, the RMS’s efforts will focus on anglers keen to get out and experience the historic influx of tuna and mackerel fishing vessels in the area.
Boating safety officers will operate on waterways from Lake Macquarie to Tweed Heads, with Hutchings saying authorities would “make no apologies for enforcing rules in order to reduce the number of crashes, injuries and deaths on our waterways”.
“Especially with some bad weather expected across the weekend in some areas, we want everyone to enjoy themselves on the water but we want to make sure they are doing it safely,” he said.
Seven top offshore boating safety tips
- Carry an EPIRB every time you head offshore. It is compulsory if you're heading out more than two nautical miles
- It is compulsory to wear at least a Level 100 lifejacket at all times in vessels under 4.8 metres when offshore
- Check distress flare expiry dates
- Know when it’s safe to cross a bar and wear a lifejacket while crossing
- Check the weather before you head out on the water
- Log on and log off with Marine Rescue NSW
- Check the information on webcams before going out
Other offshore must-haves
Heading more than 2.0nm offshore? These are the other important safety considerations to make before you think about pointing the bow towards the big blue.
- A magnetic compass
- A chartplotter or physical map of the area you are visiting
- Carry at least 2.0 litres of drinking water per person
- A marine radio
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