Surf Life Saving NSW’s ground-breaking rock fishing safety program come to Avoca Beach this month, teaching rock fishers about vital safety measures and skill-building, with each participant receiving a free lifejacket.
Following the success of the Gone Fishing program launch at Port Kembla in September, Avoca Beach SLSC will be the site of the second workshop on Sunday, November 20.
Eleven people lost their lives while rock fishing between June, 2021 and June, 2022, in NSW.
With the support of the NSW Government through the Department of Primary Industries, Surf Life Saving NSW will host a minimum of 10 coastal and 10 in-community workshops aimed specifically at multicultural and at-risk groups, including giving out 1,000 free lifejackets and offering crucial lifejacket-fitting advice from experts.
Minister for Agriculture, Dugald Saunders announced in July that the NSW Recreational Fishing Fund would invest $205,000 toward the delivery of the workshops.
“Our focus for this day is to provide rock fishing safety education to at-risk communities,” SLSNSW Community Education Manager, Julia Kiss, said.
“Workshop sessions are held in the morning and include the reviewing and wearing of correct lifejackets, safe and unsafe clothes and footwear, what to wear in different conditions, what to pack and not to pack when rock fishing and expert fishing tips.
“After lunch participants will do location specific sessions to highlight the hazards, risks, conditions and unsafe fishing locations in the Avoca area.
“They will learn about tides, swell, signage and different types of emergencies, how to handle them and how emergency services can respond.
“In these sessions, experts including experienced lifeguards, lifesavers, and local rock fishers will deliver vital information on what you can do to keep yourself safe while rock fishing.”
SLSNSW CEO, Steve Pearce, said the day aims to equip rock fishers with the tools to safely visit the coastline and then return home to their families.
“Many people think Surf Life Saving is about volunteers on the beach and swimming between the red and yellow flags, but our educational reach extends so much further,” he said.
“We’re excited to continue delivering these workshops, which we hope will have a positive impact on at-risk communities and our coastal drowning toll.”
Interested rock fishers are encouraged to register for the workshop by visiting https://tinyurl.com/GoneFishing-Avoca or emailing community@surflifesaving.com.au.
Source:
Media release, Nov 9
Surf Life Saving NSW