Goya Dmytryshchak
Coronavirus restrictions inspired many swimmers to take to the ocean but has led to conflict with anglers on boats and several people getting tangled in fishing line at Williamstown beach.
Jeff Challis, who started ocean swimming in March last year, said he was recently caught up in fishing line.
“With COVID, the number of people that are now doing ocean swimming has swelled a lot,” he said.
“One thing that is now coming up is a conflict with swimmers and fishermen in their boats.
“Some of the boats are consistently fishing amongst the swimmers.
“I myself got caught up in fishing line.”
Williamstown Open Water Swimmers coach Jason Bryce said there had been a boom in swimmers the past year, which had led to “serious safety concerns”.
“An avoidable tragedy will happen sooner or later.
“Fishers on the rocks, very close to beach, often ‘catch’ swimmers with their lines, getting them tangled up.
“A swimmer who can’t freely use their legs or arms is in danger of sinking, panicking and drowning.
“Fishers in boats come very close to the no boating zone at the beach and sometimes cast lines into the no boating zone, occasionally catching or entangling swimmers as they pass by.
“This is more dangerous because the water is very deep 100-200 metres from shore and help is a long way away.”
“More no-boating markers (yellow poles) are required because there are more swimmers than ever before in the bay.”
Williamstown-Newport Anglers Club and Fish Protection Society, one of several fishing clubs close to Williamstown Beach, said swimmers had been entering boating channels.
“Sometimes, we have to slow down and give way to them,” president Conrad Greer said.
“There’s a bit more traffic out there – we’ve just got to be a bit more careful.
“Maybe they (swimmers) should be told, just be careful of the boats as well.
“It is very hard to see them on sunrise but we are very careful and cautious.
“We are very respectful and very mindful that they are in the water.”
Fishing and Boating Minister and Williamstown MP Melissa Horne said swimmers had a dedicated zone.
“A dedicated swimming only zone marked by on-water piles and land-based signs exists at Williamstown beach to ensure the safety of swimmers,” she said.
“Where swimmers choose to swim outside no boating zones, swimmers need to be alert to the likely presence of vessels.
“We encourage anyone operating a vessel to know and comply with the local waterway rules, be respectful of each other and to always operate a in a safe manner.”
