UPDATE, Sunday, noon:
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The safety compliance of off-shore boat operators in the south-west has drawn the praise of an experienced water police officer.
Water police squad Senior Constable Christian Airey and colleagues conducted safety checks at Portland on Saturday, April 20, and in Warrnambool and Port Fairy on Sunday.
The checks at the Warrnambool boat ramp coincided with the South-west Victorian Game Fishing Classic run by the Warrnambool Offshore and Light Game Fishing Club.
"Compliance was really good. We're pleased with it," Senior Constable Airey said.
"The public is to be commended on their compliance. Boat operators generally seem to be aware of their obligations.
"A lot of the boats we were checking were from Melbourne coming down. They are certainly aware of the requirements.
"The ones lacking a bit are probably the locals we don't see a lot."
The officer, who has been in the water police squad for more than a dozen years, said there had been significant improvement in safety compliance since he first started.
He said all relevant information and requirements were set out on the Safe Transport Victoria website (safetransport.vic.gov.au).
That website covers requirements for lifejackets, flares and communications, what safety gear needs to be carried and when lifejackets need to be worn.
"Since I started in the squad, safety compliance has improved out of sight," Senior Constable Airey said.
"I've never seen Port Fairy as busy. It was also very busy at Portland with the tuna season in full swing and there were plenty of boats at Warrnambool.
"It's great to see people doing the right thing, but we all need to be aware there's always room for improvement."
Earlier: Water police will be conducting safety checks at Portland and Warrnambool this weekend to coincide with the busy tuna fishing season.
Senior Constable Christian Airey said he and colleagues would be at Portland on Saturday conducting checks.
Water police unit officers have routine conducted annual checks in south-west waters between Easter and July, during the tuna season.
Senior Constable Airey said this year there would be additional checks to ensure compliance and safety, particularly of off-shore boaters and fisherpersons.
The officers will be at the Warrnambool breakwater on Sunday as the South-west Victorian Game Fishing Classic is run by the Warrnambool Offshore and Light Game Fishing Club.
"Our focus will be safety and compliance," Senior Constable Airey said.
"It's all about education and trying to ensure the safety of those on boats, particularly those people going out to sea.
"We just want to make sure that boat operators are complying with all the safety requirements, that they have everything they need to keep everyone as safe as possible," he said.
