Rock fisher behaviours and perceptions regarding drowning risk assessed by direct observation and self‐report: A public awareness campaign evaluation

Abstract

Issue addressed: Participants engaged in rock fishing are at risk of drowning. Following coronial investigation of fatalities, a 3-year safety campaign targeting rock fishers was developed in Victoria, Australia. Key campaign messages were wearing lifejackets, not fishing alone, and checking sea and weather conditions. The reported study provides results from a campaign evaluation.Methods: Evaluation by self-report and direct observation of safety attitudes and behaviours was undertaken pre-and during campaign. Data collections were as follows:(a) online survey of rock fishers recruited from panels, social media and rock fishing networks (n = 350) and (b) rock fisher direct observation and self-report at selected Victorian rock fishing platforms (n = 282; n = 58, respectively).Results: Safety message recall was reported by 51.7% of rock fishers surveyed online though far fewer recalled campaign key messages. No effect on key safety behaviours or attitudes were detected for fishers on platforms during campaign. Never wearing a lifejacket was reported by 31.8% online, 60.3% at platforms and observed for 97.4%. From direct observation, most participants did not fish alone and checked conditions on arrival. Conclusion:Campaign evaluation measures showed mixed outcomes. Irrespective, most rock fishers carry high drowning risk through failure to wear lifejackets. Legal mandating of lifejackets for identified high-risk platform is being introduced for Victoria, although careful evaluation is required to detect unanticipated outcomes.Informing future campaign evaluation, complementary methods highlight likely bias in self-reporting through faulty recall or social desirability.So what?: Future campaigns require innovative or novel design, over longer duration, to capture attention and change rock fisher behaviours.

A Review of Interventions for Drowning Prevention Among Adults

“…Eight studies (36%) measured changes in water safety skills, with six describing improvements in swimming ability [48,50,53,54,57,59]. The study by Petrass et al (2018) measured simulated rescue competency, and the two studies by Sansiritaweesook andcolleagues (2015a, 2015b) reported increases in the [68]. The findings of the review highlight the availability, and regulation of lifejacket use as a critical and cost-effective approach to drowning prevention.…”

Preliminary evaluation of the impact of mandatory life jacket laws at declared high-risk rock platforms on unintentional rock fishing drowning deaths

“…Has legislation designating declared areas impacted how rock fishers choose fishing locations; that is, are rock fishers opposed to wearing a life jacket pushed to rock platforms in non-declared areas? Potential unintended consequences of legislative change should be further explored 21…”

“…Questions also remain regarding the impact of legislation on life jacket wear rates. A Victorian survey found a low recall of safety messages in rock fishers after a 3-year safety campaign, and little impact on life jacket wear rates through direct observation 21. Similar research is required in NSW, including exploring impact on life jacket wear rates via direct observation.…”