Rock-Based Fishing Research

Fishing from rocks continues to be one of New Zealand’s most dangerous pastimes. Five fishers lost their lives off Auckland’s West Coast in late in 2005, initiating the implementation of the West Coast Rock-based Fishing Project. In spite of the persistence of rock-based-fishing fatalities on Auckland’s west coast little was known about this fishing fraternity, their demographics, perceptions of associated risk of drowning or their water safety behaviours when fishing at hazardous locations.

Learn about Safer Rock-based Fishing

E-LEARNING

West Coast Rock-Based Fisher Safety Project 2025

(Authored by: Dr Kevin Moran, Faculty of Education, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand)

This report presents a comprehensive synthesis of findings from the 2025 Rock-based Fishing Observational Study and the Rock-based Fishing Community Survey. Together, these studies aim to provide a robust, evidence-informed foundation for future safety interventions, infrastructure planning, and behavioural education relating to one of New Zealand’s highest-risk recreational activities. The analysis incorporates two decades of historical data and incorporates 309 detailed observations from high-risk coastal sites, survey responses from 55 active fishers, and movement analytics sourced from GPS data via ActiveXchange.

The study confirms that rock-based fishing remains a predominantly male activity (89%) with a marked shift toward an older demographic: more than half (51%) of participants in 2025 were aged 45 or older, up from 20% in 2006. Most fishers (79%) have lived in New Zealand for over a decade, indicating a shift from newly settled populations to more established communities. Despite positive trends in several safety behaviours, including increased weather checks (92%), cell phone carriage (95%), and abstention from alcohol (100%), behaviours such as wearing gumboots and climbing down rocks to retrieve snagged lines remain persistent and pose considerable drowning risk. While lifejacket usage has improved from just 5% in 2006 to 41% in 2025, this is still significantly below best practice recommendations. Critically, a perceptual disconnect remains; while most respondents agree that fishing from rocks is risky, many overestimate their swimming competence and reliance on local knowledge. Changes in behaviours about lifejacket use are a cause for concern and will require further intervention in the coming season.

Together, these studies represent a landmark effort in combining field observation, community insight, and data to inform an evidence-based best-practice approach to recreational fishing safety in Auckland.

Full details, findings and recommendations can be found, along with previous years’ reports, which can be downloaded from Related Files on this page. Read more about Land-based Fishing Safety and don’t forget to check out our Rock-based Fishing e-Learning Module.