Update from Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST) November 2022
Margate Marina Safety Night
MAST would love to see as many people as possible at the Margate Marina on Thursday, 1 December 2022.
MAST will be demonstrating how to properly self-check an inflatable life jacket and talking about different items of safety equipment. You may also want to ask general questions about MAST.
A free sausage sizzle will be available and it will be a great night.
Denison Canal Dredging
Dredging has been completed at Denison Canal. The depth has been increased by around 600mm at the western and eastern approaches to the Canal. This will be a huge benefit for all those heading to the East Coast via the Denison Canal this summer.
MAST will be updating the information available on our website ready for the summer once the final inspection has been made.
Launceston Cruising Mooring
The public cruising mooring has unfortunately gone missing after the recent floods. MAST will provide further information on the future of the mooring in the coming months.
Stakeholder Survey
As mentioned in the last newsletter, MAST will be carrying out a survey from late November. It will be an online survey accessed by a QR barcode. This barcode will be included in the next edition of Boatwise and MAST will promote the code on their Facebook page. Three $200 vouchers will be made available to a person from each region to spend at your favourite Boatsafe Partner outlet.
We would love as many people as possible to complete the survey, as it does give MAST some valuable feedback.
Australian Wooden Boat Festival
Not long to wait now for the start of the great festival. Boats from the mainland will begin arriving over the next month or so. This will be a fantastic spectacle around the Hobart waterfront.
Please set yourself up for a visit between 10 -13 February 2023. Over 140 boats are expected from interstate. Other boats not involved will also be coming down just to feel a part of the festival. It is going to be a huge event.
Cray Season
It is the opening of the cray season for the western zone for all waters, except the East Coast Rock Lobster Stock Rebuilding Zone from Saturday, 5 November 2022.
Traditionally, this has not been a good time in relation to fatalities and incidents on our waterways. Take care setting and picking up your pots. If the weather and sea conditions are not suitable, don’t go out. Wait until they are.
Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs)
The Department of Natural Resources and Environment is responsible for the management of the five FADs which have been deployed down the east coast.
Artificial Reefs
The first artificial reef in Tasmania has been installed southeast of Green Island in the D’Entrecasteaux Channel. The co-ordinates of the Reef are: NW – 43° 12.749’S/147° 18.485’E; NE – 43° 12.749’S/147° 18.629’E; SE – 43° 12.857’S/147° 18.629’E; SW – 43° 12.857’S/147° 18.485’E. It will be really interesting over the coming months and years to see what species it attracts. A second reef will be installed at Turners Beach hopefully early in 2023.
Getting Ready for Summer
With summer nearly here, now is the time to check that you have your boat ready. MAST has an online checklist to help with this.
Make sure you visit one of our great Boatsafe partners if you need new gear or your engine needs to be serviced. A full list of Partners can be found on the MAST website.
