The NSW Government will spend $90,000 on the expansion of current rock fishing safety programs to educate and assist the state’s rock anglers.
In an announcement today the Minister for Primary Industries Steve Whan said “This additional funding will provide for the installation of more life buoys along the NSW coast, and produce additional safety information for recreational fishers, building on the existing comprehensive rock fishing safety programs.”
“Rock fishing is an enjoyable pastime for many recreational fishers in NSW, but unfortunately one that poses many deadly dangers, as we’ve seen in recent tragic events.”
Whan said the funding will include $30,000 to provide multilingual safety information to recreational fishers and $60,000 to expand the Angel Ring life buoy program administered by the Australian National Sportsfishing Association (ANSA). This will complement the existing funding the Government provides for rock fishing safety programs in NSW.
ANSA Angel Ring Program Coordinator Stan Konstantaras said the additional funding will go a long way towards improving safety outcomes for rock fishers.
“Despite wide-ranging safety programs, rock fishing deaths continue to occur because of the popularity of the activity and inexperienced anglers who fish during dangerous conditions,” he said.
“This project not only contributes to saving lives but also identifies regional rock fishing black spots and encourages community awareness.”
Further information, including coastal reports, Maritime alerts and multilingual brochures, can be found HERE
