Rock fishing legislation

[banshee]

I think what's geting caught in some throats is the wiff of 'do gooderism',there's nothing worse than being told what you should be doing by someone who doesn't do it.
On a separate note regarding south coast rocks (those around the Woolongong area),I will relay what I've been told and recount an actuall first hand occurance and use the term 'yellow raincoat brigade' as it seems to fly unopposed here.Some twenty years ago I was visiting rels in that neck of the woods (I'm originaly from there) and decided on some fishing around the Barrack Point area.After an hour or so I was approached by a resident who wanted me to sign a petition to keep people who wear yellow rain coats of the rocks,I was somewhat amused by this ad declined the request,the lady seemed noneplussed and just remarked that I would probably see what she was on about a bit later on.Sure enough about an hour later two van loads of 'the yellow rain coat brigade' arrived and systematicaly took every living creature of the rocks right down to an arms depth below the water line,women ,kids and men of all ages took everything from the tinniest welks the size of a match head to star fish and crabs of all sizes, they lined up in an Emu parrade and combed the area emptying everything into drums in the vans.When they got to my gear they simply cast it aside with no regard,I confronted the person to just be totaly ignored with no eye contact or conversation,to say I was ropable was an understatement as this dopey f@!$wit shuffled around me.Now to the second part of my point....the vast majority of people who are fishing these rocks and being swept in do not actualy have any fishing tackle in there possesion excepting an oyster knife and bag,my cousins down that way assure me that they nearly always consist of 'the yellow raincoat brigade' in entire families systematicaly pilfering the ecosystem.Something to think about.

[NAGG]

The same could be said for driving in the rain and other common causes of road accidents.
Many, many people die from accidents when they drive in conditions where they should have pulled over and waited until conditions improve.
Many, many people have died because they have had a blow-out on tyres which seemed to be in great condition.

Do we make laws to say when you can drive a car or a law to say you need blow-out proof tyres on your car??

Finga ...... no where is this the same

We have speed limits ( & some roads now have condition dependent speed limits)
We have to wear seat belts & our cars are required to be deemed safe.

I think if you look deeply enough - we are expected to drive to the conditions ......... If you were to run off the road in the rain & the police could prove you were not driving to the conditions - I'm pretty sure you would be charged ( maybe someone could verify this)

Aside from the ....... Oh we dont need more laws / rules / regulations put upon us - Is there anything else ?

Chris

[gr hilly]

if you watch 60 mins next sunday you will learn more on this subject

hilly

[NAGG]

Death is a bitch as well.

I prefer the idea of education and people taking responsibility for their own actions...

JJ ...... Its a nice sentiment , but unfortunately too few do !

Plain and simple ....... I see a lot of people talk about taking responsibility for their own actions and safety ......... and if the 55% of members of this site that dont agree with the introduction of a new regulation ........ would I be right to assume that these 55% would wear a PFD when fishing the rocks ........:huh: Afterall we are talking about the smart ones who dont wear a yellow raincoat ........ Now if these 55% here represent the smart rockfishoes - If I was to visit the nearby rock platforms to where I am staying in Sydney atm ........ I would expect about 50% of every fisherman that I see on rocks wearing a PFD .... and the others yellow raincoats :wink:

I bet ...... I would be lucky to see 5% wearing a PFD!

Chris

[Jarrah Jack]

Nagg

Its not as simple as wearing a pfd and all will be well, as I'm sure you know. You would probably get instances where people will fish places they shouldn't because of the perceived safety of the pfd. I've done a lot of game fishing off the stones and there are a lot of places, when its rough, where you just couldn't get out anyway and would die trying.

A number of people have died off my favourite spot south of Eden. In the seventies we used to tie ourselves to anchors in the rocks. They have rusted away now.

Without doubt a pfd would help but experience and education is far more important than a peice of legislation.

[gr hilly]

the big problem,' if like me i was lucky being a kid 15yrs old fishing dangerous rocks you grow up learning thinking if i get washed off ill swim to the beach or have some other plan but if you have seen 40 or more yrs like myself go past since and still enjoy rock fishing ware a VEST they do save lives and some of the ones arn't to uncomfortable.

hilly

[NAGG]

Nagg

Its not as simple as wearing a pfd and all will be well, as I'm sure you know. You would probably get instances where people will fish places they shouldn't because of the perceived safety of the pfd. I've done a lot of game fishing off the stones and there are a lot of places, when its rough, where you just couldn't get out anyway and would die trying.

A number of people have died off my favourite spot south of Eden. In the seventies we used to tie ourselves to anchors in the rocks. They have rusted away now.

Without doubt a pfd would help but experience and education is far more important than a peice of legislation.

Hi JJ

Certainly that is the case ......... I too fished locations that you couldn't get back in if you went in if any sort of sea was running - these were scary places to fish........ & involved quite long swims to where you could exit the water without getting smashed.
Rewind 20 years ...... I would have worn a Inflatable PFD had they been available - I wouldn't have thought I was bullet proof ..... just happier knowing that I had something that would allow me to float if I went in - particularly during the cooler months where Hypothermia could reduce your chances of survival - at least if you passed out you wouldn't drown.

Chris

[flathead95]

No, Because more often then not,its not drowing that kills the person but more the injures sustaned from the fall. Even if the person is to land in the water with his pfd on it hampers you're swimming ability alot and to get away from the rocks you have to go under the waves and a pfd prevents you from doing so.

[NAGG]

No, Because more often then not,its not drowing that kills the person but more the injures sustaned from the fall. Even if the person is to land in the water with his pfd on it hampers you're swimming ability alot and to get away from the rocks you have to go under the waves and a pfd prevents you from doing so.

The backwash usually keeps you off the rocks ...... & you can swim in an inflatable yolk. The injuries most often come when you try to get back onto the rocks ........ So the key is to get away from the rocks and make your way to where you can get out without being pounded - having the ability to stay afloat is critical.

One thing that has not been mentioned is that going into shock would be common and many people would not have their full faculties if faced with this life and death situation - something to consider !

Chris

[finga]

So you make a law to make people wear a life jacket when they fish off a rock.
Goodo, no worries.
Do you also make laws to prevent children from been killed on farms??
20 people under the age of 15 are killed each year on farms.
35-40% of these fatalities are drownings.
What do we do to save them?
Do we make farmers fence dams, creeks, rivers and troughs?
Do we make kids wear life jackets on farms?
The numbers seem to suggest we have to because the number is around the same or greater then deaths from fishing on the rocks.
http://www.farmsafe.org.au/index.php...afety-on-farms

[NAGG]

So you make a law to make people wear a life jacket when they fish off a rock.
Goodo, no worries.
Do you also make laws to prevent children from been killed on farms??
20 people under the age of 15 are killed each year on farms.
35-40% of these fatalities are drownings.
What do we do to save them?
Do we make farmers fence dams, creeks, rivers and troughs?
Do we make kids wear life jackets on farms?
The numbers seem to suggest we have to because the number is around the same or greater then deaths from fishing on the rocks.
http://www.farmsafe.org.au/index.php...afety-on-farms

There are lots of activities in our daily life that involve some element of danger ...... having a family involves potential danger - kids will find a way of hurting themselves or worst.
Our workplaces are often dangerous - ( being involved in sales - road travel - I consider my job as dangerous) ..... but we all try to make our lives a little less so either via our own means , employers responsibility (training / safety eqipment) or government intervention - you know that is the case!
These are not a fair comparison though are they!
Rock Fishing is a pass time ...... which can be dangerous for many reasons !

Is it such a big deal to have those that participate wear an inflatable jacket ..... i'm not suggesting the sport to banned , certification required in proficiency in swimming etc ...... Its just a simple idea to make it safer

Chris

[Jarrah Jack]

Hi NAGG

I have a natural negative response to increasing regulation of our daily lives. I'm a seventies person not a nineties where this idea that the state is responsible and should be held account for just about everything......Nanny state.

I intuitavely hate it and the idea that I could never really win an argument where lives and peoples health is at stake doesn't make me change that feeling. But I have an answer that should suit both of us and its education. It should let us both off the hook.

After education, if people want do do unsafe things and die then its their business. Experience will teach a few of us as well. Reading a memorial on a rod holder can be chilling and worked well as an education tool for me and my mates thats for sure.

My two cents mate.

Cheers

[NAGG]

Hi JJ

I'm not really one for a nanny state either ........ or being wrapped in cotton wool

education is fantastic ..... if you can do it & do it properly - but like smoking, the education does very little .......

Chris

[TimiBoy]

Chris,

You are trying to defend the indefensible. The line has already been drawn, but you want to move it further to the left. The people who fish when it is unsafe will still do so because the Law will not be enforced. Thus the only people wearing pfd's will be those who don't need to.

Law passed. Politicians vindicated. Stupid idiot unthinking unintelligent voters appeased. Nothing changed except the masses inconvenienced for nothing.

Shut up please.

Tim

[deepfried]

Kinda wondering when timiboy or finga last stepped onto a rock ledge, headland or anything resembling stone in the pursuit of a fish ????