Following the deaths of five fishermen in three weeks at Hill 60 at Port Kembla this year, Wollongong City Council voted to seek a report on how Randwick city had managed before deciding how to proceed with its own safety scheme.

On Friday Randwick Mayor Danny Said said he was disappointed more councils had not joined in, and said "shock signs" were also part of the rock fishing safety strategy. These cost $8000.

"I think it's disappointing that more councils have not opted into the legislation," Cr Said told the Mercury. "It's important to send a consistent and clear message that rock fishing is a dangerous sport and fishers need to take precautions to keep themselves safe.

Read more: Time for some urgency on rock fishers' safety

"The State Government, Marine Area Command and NSW Primary Industries [have] provided good support ... assisting with enforcement and education and also funding signage and education programs.

"We have run rock fishing safety classes and given out free lifejackets, we've worked with local fishing and tackle shops and even installed 'shock signage' at rock fishing blackspot locations in multiple languages communicating the number of fatalities in the area."

Randwick's communications manager Joshua Hay said there had been four fines issued over the past 12 months.

"When were approached by the State Government to do a trial we had the reputation as being the most dangerous rock fishing place in Australia," he said.

"We've had 19 deaths since 2001. We thought we had a duty of care to do something. For us it was a no-brainer."

He said enforcement cost little as the police Marine Area Command took the lead at first, followed by National Parks and Fisheries officers.

"More recently Fisheries officers have been taking a lead role in enforcement," he said. "We can get involved if we need to but generally they're taking the lead there."

Council rangers did not patrol the rocks, which was a dangerous environment requiring specialised training.

"From a resourcing point of view there's no budget for it," he said. "It's something we can respond to if needed but we've found it's more effective to work with Fisheries on it."

Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery said the council would take a "proactive" approach, talking with Randwick and installing warning signs at Hill 60 recommending lifejackets.

Lake Illawarra police held an information and engagement session at Hill 60 on Friday afternoon, speaking with fishers about safety, conditions and lifejackets.

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