Boating and fishing Safety

Staying safe on or near the sea is no accident. It requires thought and planning, especially when embarking on ventures such as boating or landbased fishing. We all learn from our mistakes but any mistake at sea could be your last. Many of the precautions pertaining to boating apply equally to landbased fishing. Be prepared, tell someone where you are going and when you will return, take a cellphone or VHF radio in case of emergency and keep an eye on the weather and tides. Plan to make your fishing trip an enjoyable experience and return home safely to enjoy your catch.

The main causes of boating accidents are:

Inadequate Safety Equipment
Weather / Sea Conditions
Operator Inexperience / Error
Falls Overboard
Capsize / Sinking
Mechanical / Structural Failure
Collision
Alcohol
Inadequate Lookout

Safety Checklist

Before heading off you should:

Check the latest weather forecast (Get regular updates). Beware of the sea breeze. It may be calm when you head out but by midday a sea breeze could create hazardous conditions.

Advise someone responsible of your boating plans. If the plan changes during the voyage, notify them
immediately and always report in when you return.

Liaise with your local marine rescue group.(Coastguard)

Check your marine radio is working properly. Don’t rely on a mobile phone for distress communications at sea.

Make sure your engine is properly maintained/serviced and battery charged.

Carry an alternative means of propulsion if appropriate.

Make sure you have enough fuel for the voyage, including a reserve for when that head wind hits.

Check that bungs, valves, stopcocks etc are properly secured.

Ensure you have the correct safety equipment and survival gear on board including life jackets (Personal
Flotation Devices) and a distress beacon (EPIRB). Make sure your passengers know where the
equipment is and how to use it.