NSW Police has confirmed it is now fining people fishing on rocks in the Wollongong local government area (LGA) if they're not wearing lifejackets.

After a 12-month moratorium, in December 2023 Wollongong City Council announced it was mandatory for people who are rock fishing in the Wollongong LGA to wear lifejackets, or risk receiving an on-the-spot fine.

This followed a spate of six drownings between January 2021 and January 2024, and the NSW Government's approval to include the Wollongong region as a declared area under the NSW Rock Fishing Safety Act 2016. 

As such, it is now compulsory to wear an appropriate lifejacket and "this includes children and and anyone helping you fish", Council said when the new rules were introduced.

Lord Mayor at the time, Gordon Bradbery said: "Rock fishing is one of the riskiest sports in Australia. The ocean is extremely dangerous and unpredictable. Council's decision to opt in to the NSW Government declared areas in 2022 was one way we could enforce the wearing of lifejackets."

Police are now issuing fines

Police allowed a 12-month period where warnings were given for those who flouted the new law, but that ended 16 months ago when Council installed new signage at known trouble spots, including the rocks at Port Kembla's Hill 60 where a number of drownings have occurred.

A spokesperson for NSW Police has confirmed $100 on-the-spot fines are now being issued for people who flout the law.

"Twenty-seven infringement notices have been issued for 'Fish at High Risk Rock Fishing Location Not Wear Appropriate Life Jacket' in Wollongong LGA since wearing a lifejacket while rock fishing became mandatory," the police spokesperson said. 

On Good Friday, a 58-year-old Sydney fisherman became the latest drowning victim in the region when he was washed off the Wollongong Harbour breakwall in monstrous seas shortly before sunrise. It's not known if the man was wearing a lifejacket.

Since the drowning and the revelations that safety fencing at the popular fishing spot is falling into the water, Transport for NSW Maritime has confirmed work will commence early next year on the replacement of the handrails. Prior to that it will install new warning signs about the dangers of fishing in that area.

Always consider the risks

Member for Wollongong Paul Scully told The Illawarra Flame "my deepest condolences to the family and friends of the fisher who was swept off the breakwall over Easter".

He pleaded with people fishing at the entry to Wollongong Harbour to always consider the risks.

"Every accidental death is tragic and every fisher who wants to use the breakwall or anyone walking along it should always consider the conditions and put their own safety first," Mr Scully said.

"I have been very public with my views over many years that whether it is the rocks at Port Kembla or the breakwall at Wollongong Harbour, all fishers should wear a lifejacket for their own safety when fishing at the more notorious spots along the Wollongong coastline."

Mr Scully said he had taken up the concerns raised by those using the breakwall that the rusting safety fencing has failed in several areas.

"There is no avoiding the need for physical repairs and upgrades in the area," Mr Scully said. "While signs will be replaced quickly, I have already raised my concerns with other aspects of the breakwall and surrounds with the Minister and will work with her on a safer long-term solution."

Most people still don't wear lifejackets

This week The Illawarra Flame spoke with Toin, a fisherman from Keiraville who was at the breakwall on the morning when the latest drowning occurred. The retiree fishes at the entry to the harbour "every second day" but decided not to go fishing when he saw the size of the seas on Good Friday.

"It is way too dangerous on days like that and it was still dark at the time," Toin said.

He said despite the poor safety record on the breakwall most people choose not to wear lifejackets.

"It is perfectly safe here 99.9 per cent of the time," he said. "We come here as much for the social occasion to catch up with friends as much as to catch a fish."

He supports calls for urgent repairs to the damaged safety fence and for a lifebuoy to be installed at the end of the breakwall where most people fish.

Read about rock fishing lifejacket laws, safety standards and the declared areas in NSW where you must wear an approved lifejacket at the NSW Government website