When it comes to risk vs reward, rock fisherman take the cake for extending themselves far beyond what the stats would otherwise dictate. In the last 10 years there has been an average of 4 rock fishing related deaths a year in NSW alone! Consider the relatively select group of anglers choosing to partake in the activity, those stats aren't great.

In an attempt to educate anglers about the dangers of fishing, NSW councils have taken to shock tactics in 10 prime rock fishing locations around Sydney, including Maroubra, Malabar, Little Bay and La Perouse. They've installed bright red signs stating "X number Deaths in this Area", translated into Korean, Vietnamese and Chinese. The number on each sign will be a running tally of the deaths at that exact spot, hopefully bringing home the notion of how dangerous rock fishing is, and encouraging people to prepare properly for the conditions.

"Despite the ongoing warnings and education campaigns, people continue to die from rock fishing," explains Mayor of Randwick Noel D'Souza. "Our research shows that once people are aware of the dangers, they are likely to modify their behavior by fishing a different ledge, changing their approach, wearing a life jacket, being more cautious or perhaps not fishing that day."

Also planned by the NSW government in 2016, is the introduction of laws that will make the wearing of life jackets mandatory when rock fishing. With only one of the thirty seven dead anglers in NSW wearing a lifejacket, the stats are hard to argue with!

#News #Fishing #Select