New figures show 281 fines or cautions issued for people not wearing life jackets in 2015-16

NEW figures show the marine safety message is still not sinking in for many Tasmanian boaties.

Tasmania Police Inspector Lee Renshaw says the marine fine figures are frustrating and police will continue issuing notices until the message sinks in.

ALMOST 300 fines or cautions were issued to people not wearing life jackets on Tasmanian waters during 2015-16, figures from Tasmania Police have revealed.

The Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management annual report shows 1277 fines or cautions were issued to recreational and commercial fishers in 2015-16, down from 1241 the previous year.

Figures obtained by the Mercury show from that total, 281 fines or cautions were issued for people not wearing life jackets, equalling the 2014-15 total.

Marine and Safety Tasmania recreational boating manager Peter Hopkins said MAST and police would maintain a presence on the water this summer, beginning with the opening of the eastern region rock lobster season on November 19.

“We do a lot of work to ensure people wear life jackets and we don’t want people to become complacent with the wearing of life jackets,” Mr Hopkins said.

Other figures obtained from police showed 170 fines or cautions were issued for failing to maintain safety equipment, while 90 were handed out for people driving an unregistered vessel.

Mr Hopkins encouraged people to have all their gear checked and boats registered before summer.

“It’s discouraging to know that if people’s gear is not going to work then they’re not going to be rescued.”

Another 92 notices were issued for taking undersized fish and 32 for exceeding fishing quotas such as bag, boat and possession limits.

Tasmanian Association for Recreational Fishing chief executive Mark Nikolai said rules for fishing licences, size limits as well as bag, boat and possession limits must followed.

“The vast majority of people do the right thing,” Mr Nikolai said. “The rules and regulations are there to protect fish resources.”

Marine Police Inspector Lee Renshaw said the figures were frustrating and police would continue issuing notices until the message sunk in.

“There are always people in the boating community who will continue to ... do the wrong thing and the penalties will continue to apply,” he said.

Originally published as New figures show 281 fines or cautions issued for people not wearing life jackets in 2015-16