The agency said that 11 sea anglers lost their lives while sea angling in 2007, which was up from seven in 2006.

It added that all the deaths occurred last year between May and October, with seven happening whilst fishing from a boat and four whilst angling from the shore.

Richard Jackson, the MCA's prevention team manager says that given the number of anglers who participate in their sport, the rate of fatal accidents is still relatively low, but anglers do not appear to appreciate the need to wear lifejackets, particularly when angling from hostile coastal areas.

"Before setting off, ask yourself if you have done everything to ensure that you would survive if you fell in the water or your craft sank," says Richard.

"The primary need is to wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid at all times, even while fishing from the shore. When something goes wrong there is simply no time to get into a jacket."

Two of the four shore anglers who died in 2007 slipped into the water from the shore and were drowned. Another fell from a bridge and the circumstances of one is unknown. Unfortunately none were wearing lifejackets.

The seven boat anglers all died after issues with their vessels left them stranded in the water. In most cases, the casualties were not wearing lifejackets.

In one incident involving a group of five anglers whose vessel sank, three were wearing lifejackets and were able to be recovered, the other two did not have lifejackets on and drowned.

This year the MCA will be working to persuade everyone who uses the sea to wear a lifejacket at all times.

"Better preparation is a key factor," says Richard Jackson.

"Wearing a lifejacket or buoyancy aid will aid your survival in our cold seas, and angling in company with others will ensure that there will be someone on hand to raise the alarm."

www.fishupdate.com is published by Special Publications. Special Publications also publish FISHupdate magazine, Fish Farmer, the Fish Industry Yearbook, the Scottish Seafood Processors Federation Diary, the Fish Farmer Handbook and a range of wallplanners.

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