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The links every boatie should have bookmarked.
Government regulators, the Bureau, state fisheries and the rescue groups. No retailers, no affiliates, just the people who write the rules and answer the radio.
In an emergency on the water: call Triple Zero (000), use VHF channel 16, or activate your EPIRB. Log on with your local marine rescue group before you head offshore and log off when you're back.
Safety, beacons and the law
What you must carry, where you can go and who to call. Safety equipment rules are set by each state, and they differ.
- National
Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA)
National regulator for domestic commercial vessels, distress beacons and search and rescue.
amsa.gov.au - National
AMSA beacon registration
Register your EPIRB or PLB for free. Unregistered beacons slow down a rescue.
beacons.amsa.gov.au - QLD
Maritime Safety Queensland
Queensland licensing, registration, safety equipment and marine zones.
msq.qld.gov.au - NSW
NSW Maritime (Transport for NSW)
Boat licences, registration, lifejacket rules and the NSW Boating Handbook.
nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/boating - VIC
Safe Transport Victoria
Victorian recreational boating rules, licensing and safety equipment.
safetransport.vic.gov.au - WA
Department of Transport WA, marine
Western Australian skipper's tickets, registration and safety requirements.
transport.wa.gov.au/imarine - SA
Marine Safety SA
South Australian boat licensing, registration and safety equipment checklists.
marinesafety.sa.gov.au - TAS
Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST)
Tasmanian boating licences, safety and coastal facilities.
mast.tas.gov.au - NT
NT Government marine safety
Northern Territory recreational boating, ramps and safety equipment.
nt.gov.au/marine
Weather, tides and charts
Check the forecast from the source, not from a screenshot in a Facebook group.
- National
Bureau of Meteorology, marine and ocean
Coastal waters forecasts, marine wind warnings and MetEye.
bom.gov.au/marine - National
Bureau of Meteorology, tide predictions
Official tide tables for every Australian standard and secondary port.
bom.gov.au/australia/tides - National
Australian Hydrographic Office
Official nautical charts, Notices to Mariners and chart updates.
hydro.gov.au
Fishing rules and licences
Size limits, bag limits, closures and licences. Fisheries are state-run, and the rules change often.
- QLD
Fisheries Queensland, recreational fishing
Queensland size and possession limits, closed seasons and the Qld Fishing app.
daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/recreational - NSW
NSW DPI Fisheries, recreational
NSW recreational fishing fee, bag and size limits, and fishing closures.
dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational - VIC
Victorian Fisheries Authority
Victorian fishing licence, catch limits and stocking programs.
vfa.vic.gov.au - WA
DPIRD Fisheries WA
Western Australian recreational fishing rules, licences and demersal closures.
fish.wa.gov.au - SA
PIRSA Fisheries, recreational
South Australian limits, closures and the SA Recreational Fishing Guide.
pir.sa.gov.au/fishing - TAS
Fishing Tasmania (NRE Tas)
Tasmanian sea fishing rules, licences and seasons.
fishing.tas.gov.au - Community
Recfishwest
Peak body for recreational fishing in WA. Independent advice on rules and access.
recfishwest.org.au
Marine rescue and emergencies
In an emergency call Triple Zero (000) or use VHF channel 16. Log on with your local rescue group before heading offshore.
- NSW
Marine Rescue NSW
Volunteer rescue service for NSW. Log on and off with the Marine Rescue app.
marinerescuensw.com.au - QLD
Marine Rescue Queensland
Queensland's volunteer marine rescue network.
marinerescueqld.org.au - Community
Australian Volunteer Coast Guard
Volunteer rescue flotillas across Victoria, Queensland, NSW, SA and Tasmania.
coastguard.com.au
Consumer rights and scams
A deal is only a deal if the retailer honours it. Know your rights on refunds, warranties and 'was' prices.
- National
ACCC, consumer rights and guarantees
Your rights on refunds, repairs and replacements under Australian Consumer Law.
accc.gov.au/consumers - National
Product Safety Australia
Recalls and safety warnings, including marine and outdoor products.
productsafety.gov.au - National
Scamwatch
Report fake online stores and check current scam alerts before you buy from an unknown site.
scamwatch.gov.au
Industry bodies
Boat shows, dealer standards and marina information.
Missing a link?
We only list official regulators, government agencies and peak bodies. If one is missing or a link has moved, let us know. For the deals themselves, head to this week's deals or browse by category.
