New slimline life jackets available to rock fishers

Rock fishers are being urged to take advantage of the free use of new state-of-the-art lifejackets offered by Albany businesses in an effort to prevent drowning on the often dangerous south coast.

The program, originally funded by the Nathan Drew Memorial Trust after the tragic death of 15-year-old Nathan at Salmon Holes in 2003, is now funded by Recfishwest in 15 locations across the State, including four in Albany.

A new partnership with company Survitec, which is contracted to supply the Australian Defence Force with marine safety gear, has led to the replacement of old, bulky vests with slim, modern jackets, according to Recfishwest spokesman Tim Grose.

"They are a lot slimmer and narrower across the chest and only come to the top of your ribs," he said. "So they aren't like the old school big yellow chunky jackets - they are more of a fisherman's safety vest - you're completely hands-free, they don't obstruct any sort of fishing action."

Mr Grose said because the vests were readily available for free, there were no excuses not to wear one when rock fishing.

"Rock fishing comes down to personal responsibility," he said.

"If we are providing these free jackets to you, there is no reason why you shouldn't take one."

Albany Rods and Tackle owner Jim Allan said he had handed out five lifejackets in five years and fishers were reluctant to take them because of an "it will never happen to me" attitude.

A Trailblazers spokesman said it was rare for the lifejackets to be handed out and put the unwillingness of fishers to use the vests down to the inconvenience of returning them.

"If we know they're going rock fishing, we always mention we have them there, but a lot of the time they are still not interested, unfortunately," he said.

The jackets are available from Albany Rods and Tackle, Little Grove Store, Trailblazers and Boating, Camping and Fishing.