Last weekend Inland Fisheries and Tasmania Police teamed up and conducted boat safety checks at Woods Lake in the Central Highlands of Tasmania.

Whilst boat safety checks of equipment and PFD use are regular patrols conducted by IFS, on this occasion boat operators were also breath tested due to disturbing reports of some people’s behavior whilst at the Lake. The Marine Safety (Misuse of Alcohol) Act 2006 governs the legal limit of recreational boat operators to 0.05 of a gram of alcohol in Tasmania and 0.00 for commercial boat operators.

It was pleasing to see that everyone tested was under the legal limit on the day of testing, however 5 infringement notices were issued to people not wearing their PFDs when required and 1 for fishing without an angling licence.

Failing to wear PFDs and excessive alcohol consumption have been factors in several fatal boating accidents in Tasmania over the years. Please enjoy your fishing and boating, but wear your life jacket when required and be mindful of your relevant alcohol limit, as these patrols will be common this season at Inland Waters.