Marine Safety SA June 2025 Newsletter
- Winter whiting fishing
- Boating in cold weather
- Australia New Zealand Safe Boating Education Group (ANZSBEG) meeting held in Adelaide
- Stay Afloat lifejacket clinics
- Servicing your inflatable lifejacket
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Winter whiting fishing
Photo (above): Heading out fishing this winter, make sure you have the correct safety equipment on board
Winter is upon us and many recreational fishers are heading out to try and catch winter whiting. If you are planning to venture into unprotected waters, make sure you have the correct safety equipment on board.
The safety equipment you need depends on the size of your boat and where you are fishing. Use our online tool to know what safety gear you need.
A key piece of safety equipment is your Electronic Positioning Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). When boating more than 3 nautical miles (approximately 5.5km) from the coastline, you must carry a registered EPIRB. This extends to 5 nautical miles (approximately 9.2km) in Gulf waters. Although we recommend to always carry an EPIRB even if you are operating close to shore.
You must register your EPIRB with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
If you accidentally activate your EPIRB, switch it off immediately and notify the Australian Rescue Coordination Centre as soon as possible on 1800 641 792.
Trip Preparation
Boating in cold weather
Photo (above): Restricted visibility and checking the weather is more important than you think
Before heading out on the water, especially this time of year, make sure you check the latest weather report on the Bureau of Meteorology website.
Weather conditions like fog, heavy rain, darkness and glare all have an impact on navigating safely as they restrict visibility.
When out on the water, keep an eye out for signs of approaching bad weather. Sudden squalls are not easy to predict, and thunderstorms are a serious hazard for boats. If the weather changes, consider heading back to shore or finding somewhere safe to shelter.
All of these wintery conditions are classed as times of heightened risk as visibility is restricted. While everyone on board vessels 4.8m or less in length are required to wear lifejackets at all times, if your vessel is a bit bigger, 4.8m to 12m, everyone must wear a lifejacket during times of heightened risk.
It is also important to remember that navigation lights are also required when there is low visibility. Learn more about navigation lights.
Events
Australia New Zealand Safe Boating Education Group (ANZSBEG) meeting held in Adelaide
The Marine Safety SA team recently hosted our maritime counterparts from across the country and New Zealand at the South Australian Sea Rescue Squadron in Adelaide.
The purpose of this meeting is to provide information on what boating safety initiatives each maritime jurisdiction intends to implement in the upcoming boating season. Events like this allow us to collaborate and share successful ways we have shared boating safety messages.
Our team was able to present key actions from the recently released SA Recreational Boating Safety Strategy. We reiterated our strategy’s vision to foster a culture of safety among recreational boaters and to achieve zero fatalities and zero harm to others over the next five years.
Stay Afloat lifejacket clinics
Photo (above): Our recent visit to the Garden Island Boat Club
During winter we will be focusing of delivering Stay Afloat lifejacket maintenance clinics at boat clubs across the State – perhaps your club would like to host one!
These clinics are a modified version of the clinics we have hosted at boat ramps and events during the warmer months. They are specifically designed to provide great benefit to larger groups (minimum 15 participants).
At these events the team has a portable kit with the same free lifejacket replacement parts and educational material (including stickers and brochures). Attendees are also still encouraged to bring along their lifejackets and any other questions they have about boating safety.
We recently visited the Garden Island Yacht Club and the Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club. Our team was very happy to welcome 36 attendees and check 17 lifejackets. We were able to provide replacement parts for many of these lifejackets. Unfortunately, some were deemed unserviceable, providing another clear example of why these clinics play an important role in the boating community and the need for further education around lifejacket maintenance.
Are you a member of a boat club? Speak to your club today about Marine Safety SA providing your very own Stay Afloat lifejacket clinic, where our team will:
- show you how to wear and maintain your lifejacket
- make sure you know what safety gear you need
- help you understand emergency communications
- answer any other boating safety questions.
Video of the month
Servicing your inflatable lifejacket
Photo (above): A grab bag is the ideal place to store all your safety gear
Did you know that all inflatable lifejackets, including manual and automatic, can also be inflated by the oral inflation tube?
A regular service of your lifejacket makes sure the bladder, inflation mechanism and CO2 cylinder are in good working order.
If you can’t remember when your lifejacket was last serviced, we recommend you get it serviced straight away.
When self-servicing your inflatable lifejacket you should:
- blow air into the lifejacket
- check for cuts, tears and frayed edges
- leave inflated overnight to check for small holes.
When servicing the cylinder that inflates the lifejacket automatically, follow the manufacturer's instructions for frequency (generally every 12 months) and ensure that you mark your service dates on the placard inside the jacket.
Find more tips for looking after your lifejacket.